Water Shortages causes riots in Jordan

22nd March 2013, the World Water Day. It should be time to celebrate but as the refugee crisis in Jordan gets worse, water supply is complicated and the stability and development is endangered. Ali Abu Sumaga the director of the water utility in northern Jordan's Mafra governorate states that people protest and that people complain and "You're the government! You're Sh*t! You need to provide water to us!" It is a disaster he states.

The Kingdom of Jordan has long been one of the world's driest countries, but this year, after 600,000 Syrians crossed the northern border seeking a safe place to stay from a bloody civil war taking place in their country, they put new pressure on the country's water resources.

Throughout the north, in some places Syrians have doubled the local population. One good example is Mafra City which was once home to 70,000 Jordanians, which today is packed with an additional 90,000 Syrian refugees. Water shortages have been getting worse and Hospitals and Schools don't have enough water to meet sanitation standards.

According to UNICEF, eight litres of water are required every day for a personal living in Jordan to meet the basic needs. The government was able, by over pumping their groundwater storage, to meet this minimum but no more. In some small local places in Jordan availability has dropped below thirty liters and less. At this level, disease propabilty will rise and children will go thirsty.

But now how is this Problem solved?

The people have to work and communicate together and only take the minimum that is actually needed for them so everyone has a fair share. Also due to so many refugees causing Jordan to have enough water these refugees also have to be shared upon neighbouring countries. This would automatically mean that there would be less people to supply so more water for each person. But, there is no way around it, t here must be International assistance. Other countries have to help Jordan especially in rural areas to maintain a minimum / healthy living standard for the people.

- By Paul Freidel