Political issues - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

Political

The fact that these rivers flow across different states is a real threat because of water dependence in this region. The control of these rivers can be used as a weapon by upstream countries.

This region is a turbulent area : over the last century it knew two world wars and several armed conflicts which were not directly linked to water resources. Because of these political tensions and the lack of confidence, it was and is still tough for governments to co-operate over water. There isn’t a regional institution that can bring together countries over the economic and political issues.

The lack of reliable databases about water resources disturbs the management of these rivers.

Crisis

Until 1970 :
- Ottoman Empire prevented from possible conflicts, up to the end of the world war I.
- Iraq, the downstream country, was the bigger user of water whereas Turkey and Syria, upstream and midstream countries didn’t use it much. Thus, conflicts appeared when Turkey and Syria began to use these rivers in the 1960’s.

First crisis :
- 1965-75 Keban dam (Euphrates) in Turkey

- 1968 Tabaga al-Thawara dam (Euphrates) in Syria
- 1973-1975 : because of drought, Iraq blamed Syria from reducing the Euphrates’ flow while Syria did the same against Turkey. In 1974, Iraq threatened to drop bombs on the al-Thawara dam. It ended up with an agreement : 40% of the water were for Syria and 60% for Iraq.
- 1975 : Karababa dam (Euphrates) in Turkey

Second crisis :
- Turkey made up a lot of water development projects which are a threat for downstream countries.The GAP (Great Anatolian Project) is a project concerning the south of Anatolia in Turkey which aims at improving the living conditions of the local population. Many dams were and will be built to increase the hydroelectric production and the irrigation. So huge water quantities are used without anyone taking care of the downstream countries. For instance, in 1992, Turkey ended up the construction of the Ataturk dam : during one month, it used all the water from the Euphrates to fill the dam.

Social and environmental issues - Case of the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers

Water conflicts can be explained by political, social and environmental facts.

Social

Conflicts between those states are closely linked to the rise of population which means increasing needs. The growth rate averages 2,5% a year in Syria, 1,3% a year in Turkey and 1,8% a year in Iraq.

Environmental

The Tigris and the Euphrates rivers are volatile : they often change course and flow irregularly. Consequently, the management of these rivers is very tough.

What is more, these rivers are used not only by private individuals but also by economic activities such as farms, factories…

Furthermore, the quality and the quantity of available water is reduced by the population growth, urbanization, industrialization and the lack of environmentally sensitive technology.

This can make us think about a new crucial issue ‘transboundary pollution’.

Water represents 1,3% of the Turkish area, 0,06% of the Syrian area, 1,1% of the Iraqi area [France : 0,26%].

'Mesopotamia times' - Case of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers

In the Euphrates and Tigris region, called Mesopotamia, ancient civilizations lived from 4,000BC. Thanks to irrigation, the ‘fertile crescent’ was created. Conflicts between the states of Umma and Lagash happened 4,500 years ago for the control of irrigation canals. Since 2,400BC, the region has been suffering salt accumulation problems. Many of those civilizations disappeared because of the abandonment of irrigation systems.

Tigris - Case of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers

Etymology : Dijla (Arabic); Dicle (Turkish)
Average flow : in Iraq, 53 billion m³
Length : 1,900 km (1,180 mi)
Riverside countries : Turkey, Iraq, Syria

The Tigris comes from rainfalls in the Taurus Mountains in East-Southern Turkey. It is fed by others streams like the Great Zab. Its flow is more important from March to May than from August to October.

The Tigris joins the Euphrates near Basra. The part of the stream between Basra and the Persian Gulf is called Shatt-al-Arab.

The Tigris is very used as a transport route : it is navigable from the sea to Baghdad by shallow-draft vessels, to go upstream only rafts can be used.