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A 2025 World Bank report reveals the world loses 324 trillion liters of freshwater annually, enough for 280 million people. Satellite images document 10 lakes, rivers, and dams globally shrinking due to drought and climate change. Examples include Argentina's Parana River, Bolivia's Lake Poopó, and Iran's Lake Urmia, among others.
Iran's Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian has declared that Iran is among the world's top countries for drinking water quality, despite severe water scarcity. He cited optimal purity, mineral content, and microbial safety levels that exceed many developed nations. The minister attributed this success to advanced water management and treatment technologies, while acknowledging ongoing challenges with drought and distribution.
Maasai women in northern Tanzania are turning drought-induced livestock losses into a business by growing drought-resistant grasses for fodder. This shift, coordinated by the Pastoral Women’s Council, provides stable income, enables home-building, and rebuilds herds. The model uses seed banks and community plots, with 250 women directly managing farms and thousands benefiting during dry seasons.
Attacks on desalination plants and water infrastructure by the US and Israel have worsened Iran's already severe water scarcity, which stems from years of drought and poor management. The war has compounded problems from climate change, inefficient agriculture, and sanctions, leading to protests and warnings of possible evacuations. Iran is now trying cloud seeding and cracking down on overconsumption, but reconstruction after the conflict may further strain resources.
Drought, conflict, and aid cuts are pushing Somalia into famine. Displacement camps near Kismayo are overflowing, and children are dying of malnutrition. "It's a toxic mix of factors... Things are really, really desperate," says the UN's humanitarian chief.
Long-awaited rains are reviving Iraq's Huwaizah marsh, devastated by years of drought due to climate change and upstream dams. The water flow has reached 85% of the wetland, restoring hope among locals for the recovery of their ancient ecosystem and livelihoods.
