Much of the Middle East has turned to desert due to the overuse of water, which has taken a particular toll on nations like Iran. The impacts include increase in drought conditions, aridity, heatwaves and sea level rise . This is related to the course because water scarcity is being perceived as drought, a natural disaster. The water level is a lot shorter than most places and is increasing all the time. In some cases, laws do not contain specific rules on solid wastes, hazardous chemicals, etc. Water has always been a source of risks and opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. The misuse of water resources is another massive issue that leads to water scarcity. Standard: SS7G6a. In most cases, this is poorly educated and unskilled workers, who can hardly find a job in already . Weak environmental legislation leads to groundwater pollution, which further decreases groundwater quality throughout the region. While water is essential to life, there isn't a lot of it in the Middle East. What is happening are small-scale disputes and rising tensions which can lead to a larger conflict. . The extreme heat is not the only problem facing Middle Eastern nations. Large expanses. Reclaimed water. 05/26/2017 Sidrah Ahmad. Access to clean, fresh water is a main concern in Haiti, where waterborne illnesses, such as typhoid, cholera, and chronic diarrhea, are the cause of more than half of the deaths in the country every year. The overuse of water in agriculture is affecting the already scarce water resources. Future Strategy Urbanization, in general, has four immediate repercussions on the hydrological cycle: flooding (e.g. In the mostly cloudless Middle East, atmospheric mechanisms that temper climate change are weak and can even amplify the warming. Inadequate management of resources or over zealous water usage often leads to problems in the future once the water begins to run out. Water is a fundamental human right according to the United Nations, and while the complexities of fixing Pakistan's water problem are numerous, the primary cause of the problem is failed governance. Compounding the issue of water scarcity stemming from the Jordan River is the fact that 70% of Israeli water use is allocated to water intensive agriculture; with 25-40% of Israel's water coming from an aquifer under the West Bank. First, has water scarcity caused war in the past? This blocks sunlight from reaching bottom dwelling photosynthesising organisms which results in them dying. While natural factors such as intermittent droughts and limited freshwater reserves can cause scarcity, high population growth imposes additional pressures. Though competition over water resources in the Middle East region is very old, rivalry has intensified in recent years. Level 1: Identify (where do people live in the Middle East - countries and affects of physical features). Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should present the information on the slide Water Scarcity and Agriculture In Cairo, unseasonally heavy rainfall and widespread flooding left many urban areas struggling to access potable water for a month. In the area droughts are more frequent, and contribute to the changing landscape. If one said that the water crisis in the Middle East was the proverbial lit match in the powder keg, it would be inaccurate. Agriculture uses 85 percent of water in this region. Experts say water scarcity is chronic in the Arab world, and will continue to increase due to limited renewable freshwater resources and shrinking available water resources the result of. A large fraction of freshwater supplies is contributed by aquifers which are threatened by overpumping and pollution. This essay details the causes of and status of freshwater scarcity in this region and its broad and alarming economic, social, and political implications, which have a direct bearing on the area's growth and security. Agriculture uses about 85 percent of water in the Middle East. Rising demands, climate change, inter-sectoral competition and urbanization are exacerbating the region . WATER SCARCITY IN MIDDLE EAST. due to rising consumption), changes in the river and groundwater regimes as well as water pollution (Rogers, 1994, Strohschon et al., 2013). By doing our own part in proper water management, education . Earlier this year, several countries in the region were hit by storms. Second, will water scarcity cause war in the future? The contended nature of some water provisions has tended to mean that certain waters become more prone to political conflicts. The province literally dried up. This contributes to climate change and its linkages to water stress. Level 2: Cause and Effect (identify the cause or effect related to water scarcity in the Middle East). Causes of Water . The development of water resources is not making any progress factors such as cost, dealing with neighbouring countries which all . Water-Scarce Countries in the Middle East and North Africa NOTE:Water-scarce countries (shown in green above) are those with less than 1,000 cubic meters of renewable fresh water per person per year. As stated before, large-scale water wars are unlikely to happen in the near future. The culture of rationalizing water consumption is nonexistent among some citizens. Out of the 17 most water-stressed countries in the world, 11are in the MENA region. Water scarcity is a pressing environmental issue in the Middle East and is increasingly becoming an additional source of conflict in the already unstable region. Most likely, desertification is caused by a combination of factors, including overgrazing, drought, climate change, and poor farming methods that overexploit the soil. WATER IN THE WORLD: WATER SCARCITY by Teaching with Fisch Ed $9.00 Zip This unit provides students with an introduction to rainfall patterns, spatial distribution of rainfall in Australia and Asia, and water scarcity. This scarcity is caused by a combination of factors. Water Scarcity is a growing threat to our global economy, society and even to the survival of human beings. Deforestation can also lead to desertification. How does urbanization affect water? Pollution control & better sewage treatment. Purified in such way water contains bacteria, viruses and parasites (Middle East Water Shortage). [7] It is common to misuse land by heavy irrigation in the Middle East. Eutrophication is a major consequence leading to a decline in aquatic life as the excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) enter a water body and cause an algae bloom. Use of treated water can cause different infectious and gastrointestinal diseases. Highlights. as a result of increased soil sealing), water shortage (e.g. Rainwater harvesting and recycled wastewater also allow to reduce scarcity and ease pressures on groundwater and other natural water bodies. Saudi Arabia has only 89.5 cubic meters per capita, per year. Groundwater recharge, that allows water moving from surface water to groundwater, is a well-known process to prevent water scarcity. In the Middle East there are many factors contributing to water scarcity. The crisis that we face today is mainly due to water pollution especially in the field . (Morrison et all 32). On this question, most, but not all, writers answer 'yes': we argue 'no'. Water conflict, on any level, is a result of freshwater scarcity which all peoples are affected by. Most countries have a limited supply of the precious resource, which is also under severe stress due to arid conditions, population growth, poor infrastructure and overexploitation. Industrialization is also one of the reasons that cause water scarcity and water pollution . The absolute water scarcity level is 500 cubic meters per capita, per year. . Yet wasting and misusing water is one of the most important causes of water scarcity in the region. Economic water scarcity was found to be a major stressor in sub-Saharan Africa, and physical water scarcity is predicted to grow in the lower latitudes of North America and throughout the Middle East and central Asia."" (Padowski & Jawitz, 2009) . The countries that make up the MENA region display wide diversity. By 2011, there were over a million angry, unemployed former farmers in the country ready to fight in a violent civil war that would go on for years. Climate change is expected to bring an expected 20% reduction in rainfall and higher rates of evaporation that will make water scarcer. The problems that the Middle East faces because of water scarcity are that the population is concentrated in very small areas, agriculture is on a low level, and the population growth is limited. Most of the country's 32 million residents obtain their water from rivers and underground wells. 776. In recent decades, Iran and Turkey have built hundreds of dams in the Middle East to meet their water needs. As a result of demographic and economic development pressures, North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia will face major challenges coping with water problems. Metadata. Water scarcity is not merely a natural phenomenon. In a world where " [w]ater-related climate risks cascade through food, energy, urban, and environmental systems," the political upheavals resulting from water scarcity and pricing changes can be severe and far-reaching. It is common to misuse land by heavy irrigation. The topic that I chose to research was the water crisis in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Agriculture accounts for 70% of freshwater usage, however approximately 60% is lost due to waste involving irrigation system leakages, inefficient application, and planting crops exceedingly thirsty for where they are grown. At present, the Middle East and North African region contains 7% of the world's population but only has access to 1.5% of its renewable freshwater supply through rainfall. If governments fail to respond, shortages of major resources, including food and energy, will cause greater insecurity and conflict. Firstly, the region experiences arid conditions, low rainfall and high levels of evaporation, leading to limited naturally available water resources. The World Resources Institute estimates that 33 countries will face a water crisis by 2040. Water challenges in the Middle East and North Africa existed for thousands of years. Abstract: Possessing 6 percent of the world's population, the region of the Middle East and North Africa has less than 2 percent of the world's renewable freshwater supply. The region is heavily dependent on the desalination of water; so much so that it accounts for nearly half the world's desalination capacity, making it the largest desalination market globally. However, the scale and impact of the crisis today is unprecedented. Universal causes for a spread of arid environment are unsustainable agriculture practices and overgrazing. One of the main reasons are the dams build in Iran itself and in Turkey. Non-conventional sources of water supply, such as desalination plants, can mitigate the detrimental impact of scarcity, as can managing domestic levels of water consumption by ensuring that price reflects cost. The very survival of children is at stake, with around 41 million people in the region lacking access to safely managed drinking water services and 66 million people lacking basic . . Explanation: This warming climate is the main cause of water scarcity in the Middle East because with heating up, the fertile land dries out, affecting the food production industry and the well-being of those. The compounding effects of erratic rainfall, rapid urbanisation, rising desertification and increased risk of droughts will worsen water scarcity. And some MENA countries can already point to successful initiatives aimed at addressing water scarcity. This report shows that achieving water security means much more than coping with water . Being an energy-intensive process, desalination has a large carbon footprint. Explain how water pollution and the unequal distribution of water impacts irrigation and drinking water. In Syria for example, a predicted rise in temperature, lack of rainfall and unpredictable weather could result in desertification of 60 % of its land area. Water scarcity driven by overuse, poor land management, and climate change, is one of the causes of wars and terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa. Managing the supply as well as the demand end of water resources has assumed tremendous importance in the country. Waste management is haphazard at best and causes even more water pollution. The region inhabits about 6 percent of the world's population and has only 1 percent of the world's water resources, giving rise to situations where . Some of the strategies used for this problem are strictly controlled water supply, desalinization, and artificial rainfall. . While 97% of Saudis have access to potable water, Saudi Arabia is classified as one of the most water-scarce nations on the planet. It is a relative condition for which natural causes as well as human factors are responsible. Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should present the essential question for the lesson and the standard that aligns to the essential question. The water scarcity and security problem in Pakistan is best understood as a human rights issue. Many people around the world are suffering from a water crisis and this problem is getting worse as the world population and the global . This is a unit assessment using the Depth of Knowledge levels, that meets social studies standards 8.3.3.5.4, 8.3.3.6.4, and 8.3.3.10.5. Water scarcity across the globe. Almost 4.5 % of the world's population lives in the Middle East but they have only 1% of the global water resource availability. The Middle East and North Africa water challenges are intensifying. In the current debate over the politics of water in the Middle East, there are three main questions at issue. Additional factors contributing to water scarcity include conflict especially in Syria, Yemen and Sudan, migration of people from rural to urban areas, population growth, poor water management, deteriorating water infrastructure, and issues with governance. Rapid population growth has exacerbated the water scarcity MENA faces. Despite high levels of water access in the . In fact, UNICEF projects over 9 million people in Ethiopia will lack access to safe drinking water by as soon as end of . Population growth: The massive population growth occurring in the Middle East, considered a major cause of water scarcity in the region (Ohlsson 1997:14), puts added pressure on existing water resources by increasing the demand for water, especially potable water. The region suffers from droughts every few years. Sharp global temperature and sea level changes, shifting precipitation patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events are some of the main impacts of climate change as identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). nearby dams cause water scarcity Iraq is suffering from a water scarcity . Water Crisis in Saudi Arabia. 2 Experts measure water availability in terms of the amount of annual renewable fresh water per person. Khuzestan is an oil-rich province on the border with Iraq. Water problems will hinder the ability of key countries to produce food and generate energy, posing a risk to global food markets and hobbling economic growth. 12 out of the 17 most water-stressed countries in the World are in MENA. The inadequate infrastructure and lack of management capacity are some of the leading causes of water scarcity in urban communities. There are various reasons for the water shortage, not least of which is the misuse and abuse of existing water sources. Water scarcity is hitting agriculture and causing food insecurity, as well as driving conflict, displacement and migration. With an average annual precipitation of less than 13 inches, Afghanistan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the Middle East region. In 2017, severe droughts contributed to the worst humanitarian crisis since World War Two, when 20 million people across Africa and the Middle East were forced to leave their homes due to the. Access to water is a huge issue across the Middle East, where typically dry conditions, population growth, poor infrastructure and war have strained the little available water at times sparking. Water scarcity is increasingly fueling conflict in the Middle East, for example, in Khuzestan, in the southwest of Iran. The water crisis spurs rural-urban migration. "The challenges that growing water scarcity and climate change pose to Jordan and other Arab states are significant," Greenwood wrote in a recent essay published in the Journal of the Middle East Policy Council. A worsening water . Nearly 66 million people in the region lack basic sanitation and very low proportions of wastewater are adequately treated according to a new UNICEF report titled 'Running Dry: the impact of water scarcity on children in the Middle East and North Africa'. As in many regions, the majority of the fresh water in the Middle East is used for agriculture. In addition, evaporation from the sea causes high humidity, but rain remains absent, which causes great discomfort, for example in the Gulf area," he said. Another problem that arises in areas where there is water scarcity is the threat of conflicts. How does urbanization lead to water scarcity and air . Firstly, the region experiences arid conditions, low rainfall and high levels of evaporation, leading to limited naturally available water resources. On the other hand, rural communities . UNICEF's new report, Running Dry: Water scarcity and children in the Middle East and North Africa, highlights the scale and impact of the water crisis in this region today. The region's annual internal water resources amount to only 6 percent of its average annual precipitation, against a world average of 38 percent [1]. According to Baroudy even contact with this water sometimes can cause allergies and other dermatological illnesses (2005, 25-35). In the MENA region, characterized to a large extent by an arid/semi-arid climate, human water use patterns can interact with climatic conditions in ways that aggravate this natural water scarcity. Some Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Iraq and Jordan, are pumping huge amounts of water from the ground for irrigation as they seek to improve their food self-sufficiency, Charles. 60% of the population lives in areas affected by water shortages and 71% of GDP is produced in these areas. This puts the region's irrigated agriculture at risk and leads to saltwater intrusion in aquifers close to the seas. As can be seen in figure 1 and 2, countries in Northern Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia have got the lowest amounts of available water. . The agricultural industry is regarded as the largest contributor to water scarcity. These at-risk countries are largely clustered in Africa and the Middle East. [46] For instance, throughout MENA, the long-standing public expectation is for government to provide food and water subsidies. One of the poorest countries in the world sits alongside two of the wealthiest, whilst the region's natural resources range from immeasurable oil and gas reserves to some of the scantiest natural endowments anywhere in the world. If left unchecked, climate-related water scarcity is expected to cause economic losses estimated at 6 to 14% of Gross Domestic Product by 2050, the highest in the world. One cannot, however, deny that it did fan the flames. But it's not just a lack of resources. "The most important is the potential for both (water scarcity and climate change) to disrupt the delicate balance that . As a . Many villagers swell the masses of the urban poor. 3. Securing enough water for their citizens is a continuous Essential Question:How do water pollution and the unequal distribution of water impact the Middle East (Southwest Asia)? Contaminated water is also one of the leading causes of childhood illness and the very high infant death rate in Haiti (57 for every 1000 . On this question, opinion is more evenly divided. Other countries in the region, especially Iraq and Syria, paid a high price for this: drought, social turmoil and conflicts. The scarcity of water makes the heat more oppressive and even deadly. Middle-East water researcher Francesca de Chtel said that the roots of the Syrian conflict were to be found in 50 years of Syria's mismanagement of water, the failure of intensive, irrigated . Water. Unlike the world average of 38 percent, the annual water resources of the Middle Eastern Region amount to only 6 percent of its annual precipitation average. Issues relating to water supplies, then, affect international and inter-regional affairs, with disputes over countries' rights and access to water resources most often the cause of tensions in this arena. There are several factors that have caused such high demand in the Middle East. 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