The continuing water crisis in the Middle East region shows no signs of abating. Lakes and rivers continue to shrink, and the entire region suffers from rising temperatures and increasing desertification.
Water issues have no borders, and nations are being set against each other in a struggle for the life-giving resource that dwindles with each passing year.
Water Knows No Borders
The Middle East has many large resources of fresh water. The mighty Tigris and Euphrates Rivers that flow through the center of the region gave birth to some of mankind’s earliest civilizations, and its various freshwater lakes feed abundant local ecosystems.
However, these precious resources are disappearing. Lakes are shrinking, and as a result, the freshwater they contain is becoming saltier and unfit for consumption. The cause of some of these problems comes from dam projects, which change the flow of water and leave many lakes without adequate means of sustaining themselves.
The current state of water in the Middle East is dire—and becoming worse. Around 60 percent of the population of the region already lives in areas of water scarcity, and research points to over 80 percent of the region’s water not being used properly. The growing population in the Middle East is putting further stress on the scarce water, and unrest could follow.
The problem of water scarcity is exacerbated by the lack of coordination between countries. Nations often undertake the building of dams without any regard to the effects it will have on the water flowing into neighboring countries. For example, the recent Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project is causing tensions with Egypt and Sudan over the consequences of rerouting the flow of water. The dam cut the flow of the Nile into Egypt by a quarter, and Egypt has stressed that this is an extremely serious matter for the country’s future. Protests in Iraq, Algeria, Sudan, Iran, and Yemen have erupted over the lack of available water. Water scarcity has triggered large-scale migration and scores of refugees seeking livable conditions.
Avoiding Conflict over Water Resources
To avoid a serious military conflict over water access, something must be done to alleviate the growing tensions.
“Most countries in the Middle East region share at least one underground water reservoir with their neighbors,” observed Amro Selim, director of the Elmoustkbal Organization for Strategic Studies, “which highlights the importance of cooperative management of shared water resources. This also indicates that control of water resources and access to water will be the principal cause of the conflicts and disputes that the region will likely experience in the near future.”
Fortunately, some nations have stepped up to broker deals that will help to reduce tensions and ensure better access to water. The United Arab Emirates mediated a deal that calls for Israel to trade desalinated water to Jordan in exchange for solar energy. The UAE has also become involved in an international working group that focuses on energy and water concerns. The Emirates have set an example that will hopefully be followed by other nations throughout the Middle East.
Actors outside the region, especially the United States, can help to facilitate cooperation and help solve some of the most pressing problems. The US has numerous critical interests in the Middle East as well as considerable influence there. It is in America’s interest to see that water scarcity does not lead to conflict. Targeted financial aid to the nations facing the most severe water shortages is a good place to start. Similarly, providing financial incentives for cooperation on water issues would encourage nations to work together on solutions to the water scarcity problem.
The United States has an array of experienced diplomats that should be put to work opening dialogues between nations, while water experts could be sent to the Middle East to work with locals to put the region’s land to better use and halt the ongoing desertification.
The potential for conflict over water scarcity looms large over the entire Middle East. As the water problem becomes direr, unrest increases. Extremist groups can take advantage of this situation to create chaos and terror. National governments feeling the pressure of protests might well decide that military action is their best option. More Middle Eastern nations must follow the lead of the United Arab Emirates and work to foster cooperation and coordination over water scarcity. The future of the region is in the balance—and the sooner action is taken, the better.