The Middle East is likely to plunge into a serious humanitarian crisis due to depletion of water resources, unless remedial measures are introduced urgently, says a new report [1]. The Strategic Foresight Group prepared the report, “The Blue Peace”, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and input from almost 100 leaders and experts from Israel, the Palestine Territories, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Turkey.

The report assesses the principal challenges linked to the trans-border management of resources. At present a factor of division and tension, water harbours the potential of becoming an instrument of peace and cooperation. This emerges as the report’s central thesis. Subsequently, it compiles a list of ten recommendations, calculated in the short, medium, and long terms, which are aimed to lead to pragmatic solutions. Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey presented the final report to the Swiss Press Club in Geneva on 10 February 2011. The total budget for the Blue Peace report was 650,000 Swiss francs (US$ 702,000).

[1] Waslekar, S. (2010). The blue peace : rethinking Middle East water. Mumbai, India, Strategic Foresight Group. xxii, 149 p. : fig., tab. ISBN 978-81-88262-14-4. Download full report [PDF file, 3.1 MB]. Download highlights.

Related web site: SDC – Water management and peace promotion in the Middle East

Source: PR Newswire, 10 Feb 2011 ; SDC, 10 Feb 2011

Tags: middle east & north africa, policies & legislation, water resources management