{
  "id": 19113312,
  "title": "Middle East faces worsening water shortages as El Nino intensifies, UN warns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/middle-east-faces-worsening-water-shortages-as-el-nino-intensifies-un",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T07:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/11/09/middle-east-faces-worsening-water-shortages-as-el-nino-intensifies-warns-un/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nWhile 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.\n\nThe 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.",
  "summary": "Water shortages have persisted in the Middle East despite \"unusually\" heavy rainfall in some areas, the UN said on Monday, warning that a powerful El Nino could bring more extreme weather in 2027. The World Meteorological Organisation said the shift in rainfall patterns showed how unpredictable weather is becoming in a region already facing severe water shortages , extreme heat and growing…",
  "key_points": [
    "UN warns Middle East facing worsening water shortages.",
    "El Nino could intensify extreme weather conditions in 2027.",
    "WMO reports 42% of assessed areas had below-normal freshwater storage in 2025."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}