middle east

In the Middle East, unfortunately, water is often scarce, and over the last century its consumption has increased faster than the population.
The river Jordan, which is famous throughout history and religion, is now nothing more than a creek. Most of the water has disappeared into a wide variety of pipes, pumps, and fields to sustain the ever-growing demands of the human population in its vicinity. The reasons for the shrinking of the Jordan reflect the overwhelming problem of the whole region in obtaining sufficient water. The plight of the Jordan and other water sources of the area and a brief examination of the recommendations as to what can be done to improve it will reveal one of the more serious situations facing human beings in the twenty-first century. It will involve an overview of the water needs and practices of the entities bordering the Jordan, namely, Israel, Jordan, the West Bank and, since it is a part of the problem, the Gaza Strip. The Middle East is now arguing over...