Turkiye and the Middle East may face water shortages by 2030

Axar.az reports that precipitation levels in Turkiye have fallen to a record low in the past year.

According to ecologist Sinan Can, if this trend continues, Turkiye and the Middle East will face serious water shortages by 2030.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his speech that water shortages are already being felt in the country's largest cities, Ankara, Bursa, and Istanbul. The head of state placed the responsibility for this on the opposition municipalities that took over the administration of the cities after the recent elections, and stressed that the inaction of local authorities has aggravated the situation against the backdrop of drought.

Sinan Can told DHA:

"According to the Meteorological Service, the amount of precipitation in Turkiye in the past 12 months has fallen to the lowest level in the last 52 years, while this indicator in the Mediterranean region has decreased by 31%."

The expert noted that water scarcity could become even more acute in the coming decades, and access to water could become much more difficult. He called on the government and scientific institutions to look for new water sources, as well as take measures to increase water resources through deep drilling.