Title: Middle East hydropolitics: water scarcity and conflicts in the Middle East. A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington.

POPLINE Document Number: 074960

Author(s):

Falkenmark M

Source citation:

AMBIO, 1989;18(6):350-2.

Abstract:

Population growth and water scarcity will likely cause water crises, international disputes, and wars in the Middle East, especially in the Jordan River, the Nile River, and the Tigris-Euphrates basins. Water instead of oil is becoming the dominant resource of the Middle East. The main problem for all 3 basins is that downstream countries rely on the water form better endowed upstream countries, but the upstream countries (Ethiopia from the Blue Nile, Syria from the Yarmuk, and Turkey from the upper Tigris-Euphrates) plan to divert water for irrigation to increase agricultural production. The water situation in the Jordan basin is the most severe. Almost 25% of water resources in Israel exist in the aquifer it shares with the West Bank. Water scarcity in the West Bank may inhibit the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Very rapid population growth in all the countries affects the finite water resources. Syria wants to divert up to 40% of the flow of the Yarmuk River it shares with Jordan which threatens Jordan's future water supply. This may result in increased salinity in the lower Yarmuk and the lower Jordan rivers. Iraq has agreed to transfer water from the Euphrates to Jordan. Ethiopia plans to divert water from the Blue Nile to irrigate 120,000 hectares. Sudan intends to divert water from the Nile river through a pipeline to support Saudi Arabia. The S.E. Anatolia Project in Turkey reduces water inflow into Syria and Iraq. Upstream pollution in Turkey only adds to the water problems, especially in Iraq. Desalination, various techniques based on solar energy, and the feasibility of irrigating with seawater after growing halophytes do allow some optimism, however. Turkey has proposed a peace pipeline which would divert water form 2 rivers feeding the Mediterranean to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the Gulf states.

Keywords:

Israel
Jordan
Syria
Egypt
Kenya
Ethiopia
Sudan
Turkey
Iraq
Research Report
Water Supply
Obstacles
War
Political Factors
Population Growth
Environmental Pollution
Agriculture
International Cooperation
Middle East
Developed Countries
Developing Countries
Africa, Northern
Africa
Africa, Eastern
Africa, Sub Saharan
Europe, Southeastern
Europe
Natural Resources
Environment
Organization and Administration
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Environmental Degradation
Macroeconomic Factors
Economic Factors