WATER SECURITY

The Middle East is a very diverse region but many countries have in common a high level of water stress and rapidly expanding populations that will drive increased consumption to meet the needs of people, agriculture and businesses.

Water security covers many aspects, though it can be understood to refer to the availability of water in adequate quantity and quality for human well-being, socio-economic development, and ecosystem health. Smart Water Magazine had a chance to interview Jemima Oakey, Consultant on Middle Eastern Water and Food Security and founder of the Green Futures Network, to get a glimpse of water security issues in the region: concerns, successes, and the path ahead to achieve a water secure future.

Please tell us briefly about your career path and your current involvement with water issues.

I am an Associate in Middle Eastern water and food security at London-based con- sultancy, Azure Strategy and a consultant on the region for AKE International. I have previously consulted for Middle Eastern governments on their food and water security strategies and worked with development institutes, think tanks and NGOs based in the region on natural resource management. Recently, I founded the Green Futures Network which seeks to bring together environmental professionals in the region to debate how to build a water-secure and green future for the Middle East through monthly networking events. Previously I was the Middle East Analyst at Global Water Intelligence and have also worked on transboundary water issues with EcoPeace Middle East.

What are the key challenges and factors contributing to water security concerns in the Middle East region?

The Middle East’s water security challenges do not originate solely from climate change, although this serves to exacerbate pre-existing water scarcity issues. Historic mismanagement, rapidly expanding population growth, unsustainable abstraction of natural resources and conflict have all contributed to driving water scarcity. For example, Jordan has faced successive large-scale influxes of refugees which has drastically reduced its water availability per capita. Unsustainable groundwater extractions conducted throughout the region, but most notably in Yemen, continue to deplete groundwater levels at an unsustainable rate, leaving emergency aquifer reserves extremely low and at risk of saline intrusion. In the majority of the Gulf, domestic water consumption typically exceeds 450 litres per person per day - in the UK consumption is around 145 litres per person per day. And in Syria over a decade of conflict has seen water infrastructure decimated and water resources polluted. The Middle East is facing a perfect storm of both man-made and climate-related water crises which need urgent redress.

Can you comment on the implications of water and food security for regional stability in the Middle East?

There is a widely held misconception in the media that water insecurity naturally generates conflict. This is an incorrect and unhelpful narrative and to subscribe