“Running Dry”: unprecedented scale and impact of water scarcity in the Middle East and North Africa

The report, released during World Water Week, highlights key drivers behind water scarcity in MENA, including rising agricultural demand and the expansion of irrigated land using aquifers. While globally, agriculture accounts for an average of 70 per cent of water use, it is more than 80 per cent in the MENA region. 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.

“Water scarcity is having a profound impact on children and families, starting with their health and nutrition. Water scarcity is also increasingly becoming a driver for conflicts and displacement,” said Bertrand Bainvel, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “Within this context, it is even more unacceptable that those fighting in conflicts target water infrastructure.  Attacks on water infrastructure must stop,” he added.

Conflicts and regional economic and political instability have increased the demand for emergency water sources including trucking, further exacerbating groundwater depletion.

While not the sole reason for water scarcity, climate change results in less rain for agriculture and the deterioration of the quality of freshwater reserves due to the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers and increased pollution concentrations.

“In many countries of the region, children are increasingly having to walk long distances just to fetch water instead of spending that time at school or with their friends playing and learning,” said Chris Cormency, UNICEF WASH Regional Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa.

UNICEF will continue to support local partners, governments, civil society, and the private sector to address the vulnerability of water resources in the Middle East and North Africa, including to:

• Preserve the individual’s human right to access water and sanitation services, without it being compromised by other water uses or threatened by targeting of water infrastructure in conflict settings.
• Create a robust enabling environment with strong national policy and regulatory systems that address scarcity, including over-extraction of groundwater, water accounting and data analysis.
• Work with civil society, especially youth as agents of change, on the value of water and water conservation.
• Initiate climate change response plans, incorporate water scarcity as a priority component and allocate sufficient national budget to address water scarcity.
• Create coordination groups between key ministries (e.g. water, agriculture, energy and finance) and sectoral actors to support on policy revisions and increase of technical capacity.
• Support capacity building of key water sector actors, including regulatory bodies, private sector operators, and national water utilities to upgrade ageing infrastructure, develop sustainable operation, and reduce water wastage.

 ENDS

 Notes to editors:

For more information, please contact:

Alexandra Murdoch, 0207 375 6179, [email protected]

Unicef UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, [email protected]

 About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.

United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England & Wales), SC043677 (Scotland).

For more information visit unicef.org.uk. Follow UNICEF UK on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.