Abstract
The supply of fresh water is essential to life, socioeconomic development, and political stability in Middle East. Turkey, Syria and Iraq are the main riparian countries in the Tigris-Euphrates basin. Turkey is the riparian hegemon for a long time due to its structural power and dominant river position. Iraq and Syria are the lower countries in the basin and for this reason they always like to ensure the quantity of water required to satisfy their requirements. The conflict between riparian countries is due to several factors. These are: population growth rate and food security, energy security, economic and technological development, political fragmentation, international water laws, water and management availability and public awareness. There have been a number of attempts to find a common ground on water issues between the main three riparian countries since 1920 but no agreement signed yet. Present situation is very bad in Syria and Iraq where thousands of people have no access to water and farmers are leaving their land because of draught. Such situation will definitely raise tension and might lead to war. To avoid this, a mediator that has the capability to bring all countries concerned to the negotiation table is required. In addition, Syria and Iraq are to adopt prudent strategic plan based on resources development theory to ensure good water management and minimum water loses.
Highlights
The Middle East is characterized by its water shortage problem [1]-[5] where at least 12 countries have acute water scarcity problems with less than 500 m3 of renewable water resources per capita available [6] [7]
It is believed that the countries concerned in the Tigris Euphrates Basins should adopt the outlines of the program set by [68]
UN and SIWI [55] [87] estimates indicate that available water in Iraq reaches 75 billion cubic meters (BCM) (2400 m3 per person per year which is more than neighboring countries with the exception of Turkey (Figure 10)
Summary
The Middle East is characterized by its water shortage problem [1]-[5] where at least 12 countries have acute water scarcity problems with less than 500 m3 of renewable water resources per capita available [6] [7]. In that region Sumerians invented the first form of irrigation to improve agricultural production on the lower Mesopotamian Plain. They devised the first written communication, or handwriting. Despite its productive wealth and prosperity for many millennia, Mesopotamia saw wave after wave of conflicts This can be noticed through the myths, legends and historical accounts that survived from earlier times e.g. Epic of Gilgamesh [9]. Postel [14] argues that rather than diverting precious water to agriculture this water could be saved by importing the food/grain This is not the case in many Middle Eastern countries which have unrealistic aspirations of food self-sufficiency and it would require a most fundamental change in national outlook [15]. In this paper an overview of the recent causes of the conflict is given and possible solutions are suggested
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