Water crisis and drought threatens millions in Syria and Iraq
More than 12 million people in Syria and Iraq are in the midst of a severe water crisis, according to a damning report published on Monday. Communities have been forced to flee their homes, families have been plunged into debt and the problem is on track to get worse, according to the experts. A damning report published on August 23 reveals the depth of the deprivation and struggle for these people.
Related articles
Aid groups working across the middle eastern countries warned urgent action is required to combat the ongoing crisis.
Rising temperatures, record low levels of rainfall and drought are leading to deprivation for many across the region.
People living in these areas are struggling to source adequate drinking and agricultural water.
A report published by 13 aid groups and organisations on ReliefWeb revealed Syria is currently facing its worst drought in 70 years.
READ MORE: Twenty SAS soldiers involved in ‘urgent’ desert rescue from Taliban
More than five million people in Syria directly depend on the river.
Rising temperatures across the country have also caused issues with electricity as dams have run out of water, which in turn has a detrimental impact on the operation of essential infrastructure, including health facilities.
Two dams in northern Syria, serving three million people with electricity, face imminent closure.
Hotter weather caused by climate change has raised the risk associated with the ongoing issues and the severity of droughts in the region.
A report published by the UN in June revealed unseasonably low levels of rainfall across the eastern Mediterranean basin since autumn 2020 have contributed to drought conditions in the country.