Water Scarcity in Jordan 

“When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”  

-Benjamin Franklin 

Written by Iasmina-Măriuca Stoian 

Water scarcity is a serious issue that affects over 700 million peoplei that live in over 43 different countries. From those, there is a list of 14 countriesii that face severe water stress: Qatar, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, United Arab Emirates, San Marino, Bahrain, India, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Oman and Botswana. Because most of them are located either in the Middle East or in the Northern Africa region (MENA region), they are mostly affected by the desert climate and by the increasing level of demand. 

By definition, water scarcity, or water shortage, is the lack of necessary supplies of fresh and clean water to meet the demand for water, thus affecting the countries economically, politically and also the world’s growth level of population. 

Background 

Jordan, a relatively stable oasis in the midst of Middle Eastern turmoil, is affected by two issues that threatens its continuous stability – water scarcity and the regional conflicts that not only affects the surrounding countries, but also the Jordanians. According to a study, without intervening measures, over 90% of Jordan’s low-income population will be experiencing critical water insecurity by the end of 2030 (Yoon et al., 2021). What is worth mentioning about this issue is that, although infrastructure is adequate, demand exceeds supply due to population growth and Syrian refugees. Water sources in Jordan include 54% groundwater, 37% surface water, and 110 mm of annual rainfall. However, while the underground basins are overly exploited, the surface water supplies are either mismanaged or contaminated by pollution, making them inaccessible for immediate use. 

This article will look firstly into the factors contributing to this issue, then the effects on the society and the environment, and finally the solutions and current projects. From the mismanagement of surface water resources to desertification and climate change, this article will provide an overview of Jordan’s water scarcity, the measures already taken and solutions for this issue. 

Main causes for water scarcity 

The issue of water scarcity in the Jordan Valley is complex and difficult to address due to a variety of factors such as natural processes, political crises, rapid population growth, water pollution, the discrepancy between supply and demand, the migration of Syrian refugees, and the misuse of water resources. The water shortage not only has effects on the environment and people living in the region, but also on the poor populations from rural areas who face daily struggles due to water scarcity, pollution, and resulting health and economic crises. The following paragraphs will present some, but not all causes of the water shortage in the country. 

Desertification, droughts, and climate change 

Desertification and droughts are natural phenomena affecting the water shortage not only in the country but also in the region, as well as the impact of climate change leading to decreased groundwater and aquifer replenishment. Also, heavy irrigation practices and the overdrawing of water from aquifers have contributed to the depletion of water sources. 

While droughts are temporary periods caused by a lack of precipitation, desertification is a long-term process in which fertile land becomes arid and almost impossible to support vegetation, leading to the transformation of the specific area into a desert. They are both caused by the increased temperatures, human activities, such as deforestation, or lack of rainfalls. 

On the other hand, climate change means rising global temperatures, modifying rainfall patterns, intensifying drought conditions and desertification processes. These conditions increase the risk of wildfires and threaten groundwater resources, which supply a significant portion of the country’s domestic water. 

Pollution and water contamination 

Pollution from agricultural runoff and contamination has had a significant impact on the water in Jordan. Multiple rivers and lakes have been contaminated due to the use of insecticides by farmers. In Jordan Valley, the widest region with freshwater resources,iii approximately 70% of freshwater resources are now contaminated by biological pollutants.  

Mismanagement of water resources  

Jordan relies on 3 major surface water sources for 37% of its total water supply; these are the Jordan, Zarqa, and Yarmouk rivers. Overdrawing water for heavy irrigation is depleting water resources in the whole MENA region, leading to drier landscapes and decreasing moisture in the ground. Heavy irrigation uses water from various sources, such as rivers, aquifers, and groundwater, preventing the excess water from being used for other purposes due to added pollutants and chemical compounds. Additionally, over-pumping by Israel and Syria are causing Jordan’s access to the Jordan and Yarmouk rivers to diminish, due to lack of regional environmental cooperation.  

Migration of refugees and increasing demand 

Current water demand exceeds the water supply, leading to a constant water deficit in Jordan. Population growth, particularly from refugees, exacerbates the issue by reducing available water per capita. There are three main uses for water in Jordan: municipal, industrial, and agricultural.  

As for Amman, private water tankers in wealthy areas have seen a rise in prices, contributing to the ongoing water shortages in the city. As a result, government rationing of water is common, and wealthier households often use private water trucks to fill multiple tanks on their roofs. On the other hand, the poor households are most affected, as they have limited capacity to store water and cannot afford to buy from private trucks. While people are responsible for obtaining water tanks on their own, damage to these tanks can make them lose precious water. Stories from people show the dramatic image behind this issue, making people beg for water from their neighbours or skip showers or cleaning to save water.iv More effects will be further discussed below. 

Impact on society and environment 

Human capital impacts 

Apart from the insufficient amount of drinking water for the population, the rest of the amount necessary for basic hygiene and sanitation is almost inexistent. Consequences of the lack of water on the long term are the development of adverse health conditions such as lethargy, neurological symptoms, kidney failure, and others. Moreover, the lack of clean water can also affect the population by increasing the mortality rate attributed to numerous wash-related diseases. 

Water scarcity can also affect children and young students, by lowering the school attendance and performance rates, especially for girls. This is important as children would be able to practice important hygiene behaviour, such as correct disposal of menstrual products and handwashing. 

Impact on refugees 

The impact on refugees is even more drastic. As many of them are among the poorest people in Jordan, the impact is even greater. Tayba Abkar, a 32-year-old Sudanese refugee and a mother of four says: “My children have to go to the neighbours’ house on most of the days to use the toilet. My 13-year-old daughter feels very embarrassed when she goes there”.v This is just one of the many stories of families struggling with this environmental issue. 

Impact on food security 

Water scarcity not only affects human lives but has also a direct effect on food security. A decrease of water in local lakes and rivers means a decrease in agricultural productivity. Food insecurity mostly affects the poor population, leading to multiple cases of malnutrition, famine or undernourishment. 

Solutions and mitigations 

Jordan Water Sector Efficiency Project 

The Jordan Water Sector Efficiency Project aligns with the government’s strategy and aims to improve water sector efficiency, drought management, and climate resilience, for which the World Bank approved $300 million for the implementation of this project.vi The project is still being implemented and is envisaged to cover over 1.6 million people and to save 10 million cubic meters of water, reduce electricity use, and establish a drought management system to benefit households, farmers, and industries in the country. 

UNICEF collaboration 

Among the different international organizations involved in this issue, UNICEF supports sustainable water and environmental conservation projects to improve access to water and sanitation for vulnerable children and families. They currently work with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation to enhance water supply and sanitation infrastructure in cities, schools, refugee camps, and communities.vii They are planning to implement alternative water technologies, promote water conservation, and advocate for policies that manage social-ecological systems. Regional advocacy groups like EcoPeace Middle East also contribute to environmental protection and peacebuilding.  

Dialogues about regional water allocation 

Another solution would be the improvement of water allocation by establishing multilateral discussions and regional cooperation between countries. The Jordan River Basin lacks a multilateral treaty for water allocation. These discussions could play a significant role in reaching comprehensive agreements and promoting regional sustainable development, including unified management of the Jordan River Basin. 

References

  • Wu, T. L. (2024, March 4). 4 Countries with Water Scarcity Right Now | Earth.Org. Earth.Org. https://earth.org/countries-with-water-scarcity/ 
  • Yoon, J., Klassert, C., Selby, P., Lachaut, T., Knox, S., Avisse, N., Harou, J., Tilmant, A., Klauer, B., Mustafa, D., Sigel, K., Talozi, S., Gawel, E., Medellín-Azuara, J., Bataineh, B., Zhang, H., & Gorelick, S. M. (2021, March 29). A coupled human–natural system analysis of freshwater security under climate and population change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2020431118 
  • Water, sanitation and hygiene. (n.d.). UNICEF Jordan. https://www.unicef.org/jordan/water-sanitation-and-hygiene 
  • Beithou, N., Qandil, A., Khalid, M. B., Horvatinec, J., & Ondrasek, G. (2022, July 8). Review of Agricultural-Related Water Security in Water-Scarce Countries: Jordan Case Study. Agronomy. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12071643  

Climate change and its impacts on girl’s education

Presented by Ariel Ozdemir, Faith Galgalo, Ioana-Sorina Alexa, Olimpia Guidi, Sterre Merel Krijnen

The barriers to girls’ equal access to education in Ecuador are multifaceted and deeply intertwined with socio-economic disparities and the differential impacts of climate change. Women are at the forefront of paid and unpaid work, representing 34% of unpaid domestic work. In June 2019, 17% of women were engaged in unpaid labour, a decrease from 18% in the previous month.1 Statistics on Ecuador’s female unpaid labour employment rate are updated quarterly, averaging 16% from Dec 2013 to June 2019, reaching an all-time high of 18% in March 2019 and a record low of 11% in June 2014.2

Women often hold the responsibility of caring for the home and family. This burden is exacerbated by household resource scarcity (such as water and services). Women, particularly in rural and indigenous communities, work significantly more extended hours than men, usually around 86 and 62 hours a week for women and men, respectively.3 In turn, this increased workload can restrict girls’ time and opportunities for education, as they may be required to assist with household tasks instead of attending school.

Another barrier that women and girls face is poverty, as 66% of women in Ecuador live in conditions of poverty, as opposed to 11% of men.4 These increased levels of poverty often result in women and girls taking on an increased domestic workload but also attempting to take on additional work outside the home to sustain themselves and their families financially.

Gender-based violence poses an additional obstacle to girls’ education by creating unsafe environments both inside and outside the home, particularly in regions with high rates of violence. In 2022, 332 femicides were documented in Ecuador, the highest number of the study period, a significant increase from the 197 cases in the previous year.5

Disparities in political representation and decision-making exacerbate the challenges faced by both women and girls, limiting their ability to advocate for their rights to education and protection.

This report was submitted to the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights issued by OHCHR.

Input_to_HRC_report_on_equal_enjoyment_of_the_right_to_education_by_every_girl_pursuant_to_HRC_resolution_54_19

Download the PDF here.

Featured Image by Robin Erino on Pexels.


1 CEIC. (2019). Ecuador Employment Rate: Unpaid Labour: Female. Available at: https://www.ceicdata.com/en/ecuador/enemdu-employment-rate/employment-rate-unpaid-labor-female

2 CEIC. (2019). Ecuador Employment Rate: Unpaid Labour: Female. Available at: https://www.ceicdata.com/en/ecuador/enemdu-employment-rate/employment-rate-unpaid-labor-female

3 De ser sensibles al compromiso por la igualdad y el clima, CDKN Latin America, 2019. Available at: https://cdkn.org/es/noticia/generoecuador

4 ​​De ser sensibles al compromiso por la igualdad y el clima, CDKN Latin America, 2019. Available at: https://cdkn.org/es/noticia/generoecuador

5 Statista. (2023). Number of Feminicides Victims in Ecuador from 2013 to 2023. Available at:

Impacts of climate change on human rights

Presented by: Daphne Rein, Gauthier Schoufs, Ioana-Sorina Alexa, Leyang Fu and Luna Plet

Global climate change presents a significant and multifaceted challenge to Taiwan, with anticipated increases in temperatures, heightened frequency of heatwaves, and intensified typhoons and extreme rainfall events across the country. Between 2006 and 2020, Taiwan experienced 384 instances of extreme climate events, underscoring the pressing nature of this issue1. The devastating impact of Typhoon Marakot serves as a perfect illustration of climate change’s profound effects on the human rights of the Taiwanese population. In 2009, this Typhoon resulted in the tragic loss of 699 lives, the destruction of 1766 homes, and the displacement of 4500 residents. As an NGO committed to advancing educational rights, Broken Chalk seeks to highlight the direct and future implications of climate change on human rights in Taiwan, specifically on the right to education.

Drawing from the aftermath of Typhoon Marakot, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan reported that 1273 schools were adversely affected, depriving children of their fundamental right to education. Furthermore, the widespread internal displacement stemming from this event also compounds challenges to educational rights. The financial hardships and administrative obstacles caused by displacement may impede enrollment and hinder school attendance. In addition, linguistic barriers further exacerbate the educational rights violations associated with internal displacement2. This is specifically the case for minorities and indigenous people. It is noteworthy that Taiwan is home to 16 officially recognised indigenous groups, representing a total of 2,4% of its population3.

Moreover, areas managing a large influx of displaced persons may face limitations in providing quality education. The cumulative impact of these challenges, coupled with the trauma experienced by affected individuals, is likely to create additional barriers to effective schooling. Taking an equity-based approach, Broken Chalk underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the intersection of climate change and the preservation of human rights. These efforts are crucial to averting future occurrences of a similar nature.

14A_Input_for_analytical_study_on_loss_and_damage

Download the PDF here.

Featured image by Susan Melkisethian on Flickr.


1 Mucahid Mustafa Bayrak, “Global Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan: A

Critical Bibliometric Analysis and Review”. 2020. Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-

1050/13/1/29

2 UNESCO, « The Impact of Climate Displacemet on the right to education. » 2019. Available online: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000374966

3 Council of Indigenous Peoples Council Confirmed Tribe Area. 2020. Available online:

https://www.cip.gov.tw/portal/docList.html?CID=7CDD0E527E32B424