The Thirst for Power

The Middle East has battled water insecurity for centuries, but today, the region is on a razor’s edge. Climate change and overuse have threatened water supplies like never before. In a region beset with wars, fragility, and political tensions, it is harder than ever to develop agreements and reforms that would alleviate water scarcity. The trends are clear: By 2050, every single country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will live under extremely high water stress.

The CSIS report, edited by Natasha Hall, provides a new perspective on an old topic. CSIS has enlisted regional experts to dive into four of the Middle East’s most complex case studies: northeastern Syria, the Yemeni highlands, southern Iraq, and Jordan. Ciaran O’Cuinn, director of the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC), a water diplomacy organization born out of the Middle East Peace Process, writes the foreword. In it, he emphasizes that the failure to fully consider power structures and dynamics can cause projects meant to tackle water insecurity to take significantly longer to be realized, or fail entirely. The authors, therefore, explore the conflict, corruption, and politics that have exacerbated water insecurity, and put forward practical, politically feasible pathways forward. Journalist Lyse Mauvais delves into incremental steps that donor governments and local authorities can take in northeastern Syria to improve water security despite ongoing tensions and uncertainty. Dr. Mohammad Al-Saidi offers politically feasible ways to bring water-impoverished Sana’a, Yemen, back from the brink. Former Iraqi Minister of Water Dr. Hassan Janabi and Maha Yassin explain how relatively water-abundant southern Iraq reached critical levels of water insecurity and suggest tangible projects that could improve drinking water. Dr. Neda Zawahri explains Jordan’s complex set of international, regional, and domestic considerations when it comes to water reforms and infrastructure projects and provides ways to navigate these political obstacles.

This report is made possible by support from Sheikh Bahaa Hariri.