Water Scarcity As A Cause Of Conflict In The Nile Euphrates And Jordan River Basins

The Euphrates, Nile, and Jordan Rivers are at center stage in the continued existence of the peoples in their basins where water scarcity serves as a source of conflict between the region's riparian nations, within national borders, and as an underlying condition that contributes to the unrest that breeds and incubates the development of violent behavior. Decreases in water quality, population growth, and/or unequal water access cause an increase in water scarcity. That scarcity results in adverse economic effects and is a source of human migration. Ethnic conflicts, power struggles and potentially trans-border conflicts may be the final outcome. The water scarcity conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa are of concern to the EUCOM and CENTCOM commanders because this is a source of instability in the region. There is a place for the EUCOM and CENTCOM Commanders to include water issues in their theater and operational activities: both in shaping the areas and when required, in conducting operations. With each of these major rivers crossing from one Area of Responsibility to another, the EUCOM and CENTCOM commanders must ensure their actions concerning water in the region are synchronized and coordinated with each other and a common picture of the end state is both shared and worked toward.