Environmental Issues in
Southwest Asia
Standard SS7G6
SS7G6 The student will discuss
environmental issues across southwest
Asia (Middle East)

a. Explain how water
pollution and the unequal
distribution of water impacts
irrigation and drinking water
Enduring Understanding
Students will understand
that humans, their society,
and the environment
affect each other.
 Where have we seen that
EU before?

Essential Questions



How do water pollution and the unequal
distribution of water impact irrigation and
drinking water in Southwest Asia?
How has the distribution of oil affected the
development of Southwest Asia (Middle
East)?
How do the deserts and rivers of
Southwest Asia (Middle East) affect the
population in terms of where people live,
the type of work they do, and how they
travel?
WATER WARS
“Indeed water is already a catalyst for
regional conflict”
Quote from the influential head of
environmental research institute
Worldwatch,Lester Brown.
The world's supply of fresh
water is running out. Already
one person in five has no
access to safe drinking
water.
Oil has always been thought of as the
traditional cause of conflict in the
Middle East but now countries fight over
water.
Map of the countries in the middle east
fighting over water supplies
WATER WARS:
Middle East
The 10 countries with the least amount of water in
cubic metres (m³)
Country
1955
1990
2025
Kuwait
147
23
9
Qatar
808
75
57
Bahrain
1,427
117
68
Saudi Arabia
1,266
306
113
Jordan
906
327
121
Yemen
1,098
445
152
UAE
6,196
308
176
Israel
1,229
461
264
Tunisia
1,127
540
324
Algeria
1,770
689
332
Water is the most precious
resource in the Middle East, more
important even than oil.
Competition for water from the
River Jordan was a major cause of
the 1967 war. As populations
increase, water becomes more
scarce.
Let’s Discuss




Why is water more important than
oil? Google the following:
How much water is needed per day
to survive?
How many people live in the Middle
East Region?
How much fresh water is available in
the Middle East Region?
Israel and Syria


The Lebanese have long accused Israel
of having designs on the waters of the
River Litani, and Syria accuses it of
being reluctant to withdraw from the
banks of the Sea of Galilee, the source
of up to 30% of Israel's water.
Israelis in the West Bank use four
times as much water as their Palestinian
neighbours.
Turkey has been accused by Syria
and Iraq of depriving them of muchneeded water, as it continues to build
a series of dams along the Euphrates
and Tigris. It is also embarking on an
ambitious project to sell water from
its Manavgat river across the Middle
East.
THIS SHOWS THE LIST OF MIDDLE EAST
COUNTRIES WHICH WILL SUFFER FROM
WATER SCARCITY IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS
1955
1990
2025
Bahrain
Jordan
Algeria
Israel/ Palestine
Egypt
Iran
Kuwait
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Oman
Syria
Yemen
Desalination


Desalination is the process of
removing salt from sea water to
make it suitable for farming and
drinking.
Why do you think countries in SW
Asia use this process?
Problems with Desalination



It is very costly for countries to use
this process.
Many countries in the Middle East
cannot afford to use this process.
In your opinion, which countries in
the Middle East could afford this
process?
A Question for YOU

What impact will the
scarcity of water have on
the Middle East in years to
come?
Water Pollution in The Middle
East



What is water pollution?
While water pollution is a serious
problem anywhere, why is this an
even more serious problem in the
Middle East?
What would be the consequences of
water pollution in the Middle East?
SS7G6 continued

b. Describe how the deserts and
rivers of SW Asia (Middle East)
have affected the population in
terms of where people live, the
type of work they do, and how
they travel.



How do the physical features of SW
Asia affect where people live?
Think about where deserts and rivers
are located in SW Asia.
Look at an atlas, pages 408-409, and
find a physical map of Asia to help
answer the first question.


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What impact do the deserts and rivers
have on the type of work people do in SW
Asia?
What types of jobs do you think people do
and why?
What modes of transportation might
people use travel to work?
Where in SW Asia do you think the
population density would be low? Why?