Water Insecurity for Some Middle Eastern Countries

Just yesterday there was a news article that really caught my attention. Aljazeera reported on the water crisis in Iraq. We’ve discussed food insecurity within this blogsite, however water insecurity and resources in a changing climate, are also pressing. Water insecurity leads to food insecurity in the land where there is either drought, overuse of water resources, climate change, and in this case damming projects. Awhile back Egypt had similar concerns over Sudan’s ability to control the Nile at the source.

Reading through this new article makes one think of a whole bunch of questions pertaining to protecting resources within one’s country, ability to control portions of shared resources across country borders, sharing with neighbors, ability to cooperate, etc. Read for yourself and new questions will automatically pop into your mind. If you’d like to share your thoughts, you can email me at the contact page, and I can post your response if you like. Climate change will affect everyone’s natural resources, and it’s beneficial to have conversations on how to make positive impacts that will help people and the environment.

Pawson, M. (2021, November 5). ‘All the trees have died’: Iraqis face intensifying water crisis. Aljazeera.com. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/5/all-the-trees-have-died-iraqis-face-persistent-water-crisis

The following is an excerpt from the article, with the link at bottom.

“Seven million people are at risk because of a lack of water in Iraq, according to a recent report by aid groups in the region. Rising temperatures, low levels of rainfall, and lack of access to river water are increasing the danger and severity of droughts, researchers warn.

Climate change is one of the factors that has led to desertification and drought in Iraq, said Rebrwar Nasir Dara, a lecturer in geology at Salahaddin University.

He added reduced water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are exacerbating this.

Diminishing water levels in the two rivers that feed Iraq are partly attributed to numerous dam projects upstream in Turkey and Iran, countries that in turn are facing increasing water demands from their own citizens amid the climate crisis.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/5/all-the-trees-have-died-iraqis-face-persistent-water-crisis