Middle East faces worsening water shortages as El Nino intensifies, UN warns

The United Nations has warned that the Middle East is facing worsening water shortages, despite unusually heavy rainfall in some regions. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) cautioned that a powerful El Nino could exacerbate extreme weather conditions in 2027, making the situation even more dire. The WMO's State of the Climate 2026 update, released at the opening of the Cop31 climate summit in Turkey, highlighted how unpredictable weather patterns are becoming in a region already grappling with severe water scarcity, extreme heat, and mounting pressure on agriculture.

While the recent heavy rainfall has not resolved the region's long-standing water problems, it has exacerbated existing issues. The Middle East remains among the areas with declining freshwater storage on land, as global trends show a consistent decline since 2014. The WMO reported that in 2025, 42% of assessed areas worldwide experienced below-normal freshwater storage, compared to the long-term average of 25%.

This disparity underscores that even periods of heavy rain may not compensate for years of water shortages, especially in regions where groundwater supplies are already stretched.

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change, stating that the world is entering a new era of extreme weather. He called for accelerated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, a just transition away from fossil fuels, and the provision of necessary financial and protective measures for vulnerable countries.

The upcoming El Nino, expected to be one of the strongest on record, poses an additional threat, potentially leading to more intense heatwaves, tropical cyclones, and heavy rainfall.