Water Shortage Crisis Dire in the MENA region: World Bank

MENA Region Faces Water Crisis, Will Have Negative Consequences on Water Quality: Report

The Middle East and North Africa are facing an unprecedented water crisis, according to a report by the World Bank. The report predicts that an additional 25 billion cubic metres of water per year will be required in the region by 2050. The current water scarcity levels are already at an absolute limit of 500 cubic metres per person per year. This situation is having negative consequences for the water quality in the region.

The report suggests that the solution to this crisis lies in resource management reforms and institutional reforms. The agricultural sector and urban centres are competing for this precious natural resource and its distribution systems. The World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, Ferid Belhaj, has called for a new approach that includes delegating more control to local authorities over how water distribution is managed.

The Middle East’s countries have already invested in infrastructure such as dams and found ways to benefit from large groundwater resources. However, the expansionist approach to water resource development is facing limits that will require countries to make difficult choices. The current overexploitation of groundwater will have negative consequences for water quality, and importing ‘virtual water’ has made countries vulnerable to global shocks.

The report’s findings are a wake-up call for the region to act on this looming crisis. The water shortage poses a serious challenge to life and livelihoods, and urgent steps must be taken to address it. The proposed reforms must be implemented swiftly, and new solutions should be explored to meet the rising demand for water in the region. Otherwise, the situation could lead to widespread social, economic, and environmental disruption.