Water wars

It is a matter of great concern that around 780 million people around the world do not have access to potable water. According to a report recently issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 47 percent people globally will face acute water shortage in the years to come.
As per various other reports, future wars will be fought over water instead of oil, gold, silver or other natural resources.
A United Nations report say: “By the year 2025, as many as 30 countries will face acute water shortage, 18 out of them will be from the Middle East and North Africa, which includes Egypt, Israel, Somalia, Libya and Yemen.”
As a matter of fact, only 3 percent of Earth’s water is fresh water while 97 percent of the water on our planet is saline.  We can cite the example of India and Pakistan, as there are disputes between the two countries over water resources. So far, both countries are somehow managing the distribution of water resources but it is feared that they might go to war as the demand for water in both the countries is on the rise.
Similarly, Turkey and Syria, Israel and Palestine are sharing their existing water resources. But experts foresee conflicts arising on this issue. Due to the rapid increase in the population and growing demand of water, climatic changes, pollution, demographic conditions and increase in industrial demands, the situation will change and give way to conflicts in the future. — Anees Lokhande, Alkhobar
 

Author: 
Arab News
Tue, 2013-09-10 01:58
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