MIDDLE EAST: Can tech advances solve the water scarcity problem? | CIHEAM Press Review | Scoop.it
DUBAI: Earth’s surface is 71 percent water, but the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region sees precious little of this life-giving resource. According to the UN, it is the world’s most water-scarce region, with 17 countries considered below the water poverty line. Matters are made worse by booming population growth, poor infrastructure and overexploitation. Agriculture alone accounts for around 80 percent of water usage in MENA region, according to the World Bank. This overuse means the region’s natural groundwater reserves are not replenishing fast enough to keep pace with demand.