Jordan facing 50 per cent water deficit this summer — minister AMMAN (AFP) — Jordan is facing a 50 per cent water deficit this summer and will hold high-level talks with Syria next week to obtain an emergency supply of the precious liquid, the water minister said on Monday. “Talks are under way with our Syrian brothers aimed at providing Jordan with additional water supplies ... and high-level meetings will take place next week for that purpose,” Minister of Water Hazem Nasser told Ad Dustour newspaper.

“This summer Jordan is facing a water deficit of 50 per cent” because the level of water from the Yarmuk River that flows into the King Abdullah Dam has gone down, Nasser said in an interview.

The largely desert country has suffered from chronic water shortages as a result of drought that has affected the country since 1996.

Earlier this year, Jordan issued international tenders to build Al Wihdeh Dam, a joint effort with Syria on the Yarmuk River, which has its source in Syria and flows into Jordan.

The dam will create a reservoir with a capacity of 220 million cubic metres, which will be equally shared by the two countries.

Last year Syria, which is likewise suffering from water shortages, pumped 3.5 million cubic metres of water to Jordan from August to help it handle its water demands.

http://www.jordantimes.com/Tue/homenews/homenews13.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), July 10, 2001