An alarming study released by “The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs” warned of a severe water shortage that could impact over four million Libyans. Reiterating previous UNICEF assessments, the report underscores that “nearly two-thirds of Libya’s approximately 6.5 million inhabitants face the imminent threat of water scarcity.” As a result, Libya is ranked 11th among 15 nations suffering from serious drought conditions and water deficits.
Citing the World Resources Institute, the report warned that by 2040, “Libya may encounter severe water stress due to a rise in water usage that surpasses the renewable surface and underground water supplies. This impending crisis calls for urgent measures from Libyan authorities to counteract the escalating water emergency.”
The report brought to light an “increased threat of desertification in Libya, intensified by rapid urban expansion without sufficient green spaces. Precipitation in Libya is sporadic and concentrated towards late winter and early spring, exacerbating the situation given the country’s lack of perennial rivers.”
Compared to neighbouring nations such as Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, Libya currently enjoys a somewhat better water security situation. Yet, the country faces water scarcity due to decreasing annual rainfall, climate changes, harsh desert conditions, and surging demand.
The report controversially implicates the West in conspiring against the late Colonel Gaddafi’s regime, suggesting a negative impact on Libya’s ambitious Great Man-Made River project. This venture is crucial, as it provides fresh water to 70% of Libyans.
The Great Man-Made River project aimed to convert desert landscapes into flourishing arable land, enabling the cultivation of wheat, fruits, and vegetables. The objective was also to develop hundreds of desert farms and allocate them to farmers at minimal costs.
However, the report alleged that in 2011, NATO destroyed a facility producing water pipes for the Man-Made River project in the city of Brega. Post Gaddafi, the project has grappled with political instability, neglect, illegal infractions, and poor maintenance.
The report lambasted the current political corruption, which prevents adequate allocation of funds for the expansion and maintenance of the project’s infrastructure. It nostalgically refers to the better security situation during Colonel Gaddafi’s regime.
The study strongly advocated for the imposition of rigorous laws to safeguard the project, and recommends “developing independent power stations to reduce reliance on the deteriorating power grid.” It also calls for the deployment of oil revenues in setting up desalination plants, given their falling costs.
This approach could aid Libya in preserving water for large-scale agricultural initiatives, thereby transforming the country into a key regional agricultural producer. However, the report cautions that this “requires a stable political landscape, strong leadership, and determined political will — qualities currently missing in Libya.”