Water Issue Among the Riparian States of Euphrates and Tigris Transboundary Rivers

Abstract

Turkey is a country located between Europe and Asia and has a surface area of 779 452 km2 with a total population of about 68 million according to 1998 census. Annual rainfall in Turkey varies between 220 mm to 2500 mm with an average of 642.5 mm which corresponds to an average annual rainfall of 501 km3. Approximately 186 km3 of this water flows into the rivers as surface water. The Euphrates and the Tigris rivers, providing 28.5 % of all the water resources of the country, are the most important water resources in the eastern and southeastern part of Turkey. After originating in Turkey, they cross the border to Syria and Iraq. There have always been discussions on water issues among these neighboring countries. It is necessary to find an equitable and satisfactory means for allocating water of Euphrates and Tigris river system to the riparian states. At present, Iraq has the highest and Syria the lowest amount of water consumption per capita among the riparians, but compared to water rich countries all three states use a relatively small amount of water.