Most experts believe that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is the worst in terms of physical water pressure.
The Middle East and North Africa receive less rainfall than other regions, and the countries are often densely populated urban centers with rapidly growing populations that require more water. But many countries in these regions, especially the richer ones, can still meet their water needs. For example, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) imports almost all food, thereby reducing the need to use water for agriculture. The UAE and other wealthy Middle Eastern and North African countries also rely heavily on abundant desalination, even though this process is an expensive and energy-intensive process. At the same time, places with severe economic shortages include Central African countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where there is a lot of rainfall but insufficient infrastructure and poor management.
Even high-income countries face pressure from water shortages.
Factors such as outdated infrastructure and rapid population growth have put tremendous pressure on certain water supply systems in the United States, triggering crises in cities such as Newark and New Jersey.
How is climate change affecting water stress?
Global warming is expected to increase water shortages in already-affected areas and increase water shortage pressure. Subtropical regions, such as Australia, the southern United States, and North African countries, are expected to warm up and suffer more frequent and longer droughts; however, when rainfall does occur in these areas, more rainfall is expected.
Climate scientists say that the weather in the tropics will also become more volatile. As rainfall became more unpredictable, and rising temperatures accelerated the evaporation of water from the soil, agriculture suffered. A more unstable climate is also expected to bring more floods, which may wipe out crops, flood storage systems, and remove sediments that may clog treatment facilities.
Global warming is expected to increase water shortages in already-affected areas and increase water shortage pressure. Subtropical regions such as Australia, the southern United States, and North African countries are expected to warm up and suffer more frequent and longer droughts; however, when rainfall does occur in these areas, more rainfall is expected. Climate scientists say that the weather in the tropics will also become more volatile. Agriculture may become a special challenge. As rainfall became more unpredictable, and rising temperatures accelerated the evaporation of water from the soil, agriculture was affected. It is expected that a more unstable climate will bring more floods, which will kill crops, overwhelm storage systems, and remove deposits that may block processing facilities.
What are its impacts on public health and development?
Long-term water shortages will have devastating effects on public health and economic development. More than 2 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water; without adequate sanitation services, this number has almost doubled and exceeds half of the world’s population. These deprivations can stimulate the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, polio, hepatitis A and diarrhea. At the same time, because water shortages make agriculture more difficult, it threatens communities’ access to food. Food-insecure communities may face both acute and chronic hunger. In this case, children are more likely to suffer from malnutrition-related diseases, such as stunting and waste, and chronic diseases (such as diabetes) caused by poor diet.
