Major water projects across the Middle East are under strain after recent cuts in international aid. Lawmakers in the US approved a US$ 8 billion package of foreign assistance cuts last month, following the US closure of USAID and announced mass layoffs. Other donors are also reducing aid: the UK plans to lower its aid target from 0.5 to 0.3 per cent of GNI from 2027, and France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands have also cut commitments. The report notes 13 of the 17 major donor countries have reduced pledges since 2022.
Experts warn the reductions put desalination, water reuse and improved water management at risk. In Jordan, officials say natural water resources are barely sufficient for three or four million people while the population is about 12 million. USAID had backed projects to reduce water loss and to finance schemes such as the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project, scheduled for completion by the end of 2028 and designed to meet the needs of about 4 million people by moving 300 cubic metres of desalinated water a year through a 450-kilometre pipeline. Funding for Jordan’s water and sanitation sector fell from about US$115.6 million in 2023 to around US$40 million this year.
In Lebanon a US$73.5 million USAID water, sanitation and conservation project (2021–2027) was halted after the suspension of US foreign aid, creating a technical and funding gap. Some countries are now integrating water investment into climate strategies and seeking support from regional funds such as the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank.
Difficult words
- desalination — Removal of salt from seawater
- conveyance — Process of moving water from place to place
- pledge — A formal promise to give moneypledges
- suspension — Temporary stopping of an activity or support
- layoff — Job loss when workers are dismissedlayoffs
- conservation — Careful protection and use of natural resources
- donor — A country or person that gives money
- funding — Money provided for a specific project or purpose
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could reduced international aid for water projects affect everyday life in countries like Jordan and Lebanon? Give reasons.
- The article mentions regional funds such as the Kuwait Fund and the Islamic Development Bank. What are some advantages and limits of relying on these regional sources?
- If desalination and water reuse projects are delayed, what short- and long-term consequences might communities face?
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