GAZA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) — The fragility and conflicts in the Middle East region can be blamed on the failure of governments to address water scarcity, local media cited a World Bank report as saying Tuesday.
More than 60 percent of the region’s population live in areas under high or very high water stress compared to just 35 percent worldwide, the report said.
Currently, more than half of waste water in the region is dumped into the environment untreated, resulting in waste and health risks, the report said.
It added that political stability and economic growth in the Middle East could hinge on better management of scarce water resources.
With poor access to water and poor sanitation, the region is suffering annual economic losses of as much as 21 billion U.S. dollars, according to the report.
