The Water Crisis in Syria

Syria is currently facing a severe water crisis, with the majority of its population relying on unsafe water due to significant drought conditions in the country.
The Economic Office of the Syrian Future Movement is trying to direct the attention of decision-makers towards this overlooked problem.

Introduction:
Before the Syrian revolution, the Syrian regime secured water needs through the construction of dams, development of irrigated agriculture, and transfers between basins. Syria shared the waters of the Euphrates River with Turkey under an agreement signed in 1987, whereby Ankara committed to providing Syria with an annual average of 500 cubic meters per second.

Before the revolution, 98% of urban and 92% of rural populations had reliable access to safe drinking water. However, this situation changed after the revolution, as the regime’s military response led to infrastructure deterioration, reduced water flow from Turkey, and a lack of interest in various water projects. A report by the International Committee of the Red Cross published in October 2021 mentioned that Syria suffers from a 40% reduction in drinking water compared to a decade ago.

Causes of Water Deterioration in Syria:
The United Nations has warned that droughts in the Mediterranean region will become longer and more severe.
The 2022 Global Conflict Risk Index identified Syria as the country most vulnerable to drought in the Mediterranean. Climate change poses a significant pressure on water reservoirs and rivers, making access to safe drinking water a challenge for millions of Syrians. Several factors have contributed to exacerbating the water crisis and affecting Syrians, including:

1. Damage to water and sanitation infrastructure due to war, violence, deliberate sabotage, and lack of maintenance by the Syrian regime. On August 25, 2021, the European Space Agency published satellite images showing noticeable changes in water levels in Lake Assad, Tishrin Dam, and Tabqa Dam, indicating drought threats in northern Syria.
2. The shortage of technical staff and qualified engineers to manage and operate water systems, with reports indicating that water facilities lost 30% to 40% of their specialized workforce due to emigration, arrest, or death, without replacement.
3. Reduced water flow from Turkey via the Euphrates River and its tributaries due to dam, canal, and artificial lake construction, reducing Syria’s water share to 200 cubic meters per second at times.
4. Harsh climate conditions, drought, and decreased rainfall rates, with the USAID noting that severe droughts, once rare, are now twice to three times more likely due to global warming and its consequences. The agency predicted a decrease in river surface runoff with reduced rainfall in the mountains of Turkey and Syria, increasing reliance on groundwater and rainwater.
5. Increased water demand due to population growth and internal displacement.
6. Use of water as a military weapon to pressure Syrians by cutting off, contaminating, or controlling water, as seen in the Al-Hasakah region due to the war between Turkey and the SDF, exposing nearly a million Syrians to water scarcity according to international reports. In October 2019, Turkey and its allied factions took control of the Alouk water station, using it to pressure the SDF and Syrian regime militias, which Ankara considers terrorist organizations.
7. Uncontrolled and random drilling of wells in response to new human, agricultural, and industrial needs, leading to the depletion of the surface groundwater layer and a decrease in water levels within wells below the usual level.

A Frightening Future:
Water resources in five basins: Barada and Awaj, Orontes, the Steppes, Tigris and Khabur, and Yarmouk, will be depleted. Statistics indicate that the current average water shortage reaches 1.727 million cubic meters annually, and this deficit will rise to 6.2 billion cubic meters by 2050 due to increased consumption, mismanagement of non-renewable resources alongside population growth. Decreased and fluctuating rainfall will exacerbate this situation, leading to lower groundwater levels, some springs drying up, and decreased river flow, in addition to the pollution of some water resources from various sources.

Conclusion:
Undoubtedly, the primary responsibility for the water problem lies with the Syrian regime, which has abdicated its duty to secure various life necessities for Syrians.
A part of the responsibility also falls on the de facto powers in the three Syrian areas (SDF, the Interim Government, the Salvation Government), where securing water for the Syrian citizen and improving water management through loss reduction and efficiency enhancement poses a significant challenge due to the country’s current difficult circumstances.

However, we at the Syrian Future Movement can recommend several proposals as preliminary solutions to the water crisis, including:

1. International cooperation: Especially regarding transboundary waters, where many international organizations like the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross assist in securing clean water for Syrian citizens. The ICRC teams have succeeded in providing alternative urgent solutions to the water shortage in Al-Hasakah city, including: supporting local water bodies to try to restart a water treatment station; equipping wells to provide drinking water to be transported by tankers in some locations; and organizing water transportation by tankers, which has served the residents, internally displaced persons centers, a healthcare center, and two bakeries, a practice that could be beneficial in other areas.
2. Water sharing agreements: A practical and beneficial solution for the region could be reaching a water-sharing agreement for the Euphrates River between Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, as more than 70% of Syria’s water comes from outside its borders.
3. Implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles: Promoting best international practices, such as the Dublin Principles, to follow a collaborative and shared approach to the development and management of shared water resources. Since 2013, hundreds of Syrian and international water experts have convened to establish guiding principles for Syria’s future national water policies, proposing key topics like: applying IWRM principles as a standard; linking national land use plans with available natural resources; applying IWRM principles for international cooperation with neighboring countries; enhancing the institutional and policy framework for water; enforcing water-related laws; and adopting a participatory approach in water resources management.

References:

• Global Report 2024: Syria | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)
• The Water Crisis in Syria… Drought and Thirst | Independent Arabia (independentarabia.com)
• What Does the Future Hold for Water in Syria? – Fanack Water
• Field Update on Syria: Devastating Impacts on Civilians, Concerns over Water Scarcity | International Committee of the Red Cross (icrc.org)
• The Water Crisis in Syria – Fanack Water
• Water Security: A Crisis Threatening Stability in Northern Syria – Syrian Dialogue Center (sydialogue.org)

Ibrahim Al-Mustafa
Economic Office
Research and Studies Department
Studies
Syrian Future Movement (SFM)