The Middle East is likely to plunge into a serious humanitarian crisis due to depletion of water resources, unless remedial measures are introduced urgently, says a new report [1]. The Strategic Foresight Group prepared the report, "The Blue Peace", with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and input from almost 100 leaders and experts from Israel, the Palestine Territories, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Turkey.
The report assesses the principal challenges linked to the trans-border management of resources. At present a factor of division and tension, water harbours the potential of becoming an instrument of peace and cooperation. This emerges as the report’s central thesis. Subsequently, it compiles a list of ten recommendations, calculated in the short, medium, and long terms, which are aimed to lead to pragmatic solutions.
Published on: 25/02/2011
The Middle East is likely to plunge into a serious humanitarian crisis due to depletion of water resources, unless remedial measures are introduced urgently, says a new report [1]. The Strategic Foresight Group prepared the report, "The Blue Peace", with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and input from almost 100 leaders and experts from Israel, the Palestine Territories, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Turkey.
The report assesses the principal challenges linked to the trans-border management of resources. At present a factor of division and tension, water harbours the potential of becoming an instrument of peace and cooperation. This emerges as the report’s central thesis. Subsequently, it compiles a list of ten recommendations, calculated in the short, medium, and long terms, which are aimed to lead to pragmatic solutions.
The ten recommendations of the Strategic Foresight Group (SFG). Source: SFG
The total budget for the Blue Peace report was 650,000 Swiss francs (US$ 702,000).
On Thursday, 10 February 2011, Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey presented the final report to the Swiss Press Club in Geneva.
Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey (left) and SFG President Sundeep Waslekar
[1] Waslekar, S. (2010). The blue peace : rethinking Middle East water. Mumbai, India, Strategic Foresight Group. xxii, 149 p. : fig., tab. ISBN 978-81-88262-14-4. Download full report [PDF file, 3.1 MB]. Download highligts.
Related web site: SDC - Water management and peace promotion in the Middle East
Source: PR Newswire, 10 Feb 2011 ; SDC, 10 Feb 2011
