Political stability and economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa could hinge on better management of scarce water resources, the World Bank said in a report released Tuesday. With poor access to water and poor sanitation, the region is suffering annual economic losses of as much as $21 billion, according to the report, published to coincide with the global "Water Week" events which opened Monday in Stockholm focusing on innovative solutions for these issues.
The estimate reflects costs from health care and lost productivity due to illness and premature death from water-borne disease, Anders Jagerskog, a World Bank specialist in water-related matters, told AFP. Hafez Ghanem, World Bank vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, said the region was living beyond its means in terms of water.
"If we think of water resources as a bank account, then the region is now seriously overdrawn," he said in a statement, adding that consuming water faster than it could be replenished undermined the region's long-term wealth and resilience. Water scarcity also can spark conflicts, the report's authors warned.
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