1. What is Turkey’s population and land area compared to the combined countries of Syria and Iraq?

Turkey has a greater population and land area than both Syria and Iraq. Turkey’s population is 69,660,559 people, while the combined population of Syria and Iraq is 44,523,658 people (population of Iraq is 26,074,906 people and the population of Syria is 18,448,752 people). The total area of Turkey is 779,452 kilometers squared, while the combined area of Syria and Iraq is 622,252 (185,180 kilometers squared for Syria and 437,072 kilometers squared for Iraq).

            2. How many freshwater rivers run through Turkey, Syria and Iraq?

The Euphrates and Tigris Rivers are the two freshwater rivers that run through Turkey, Syria and Iraq. They start off in the Northeastern region of Turkey. The Euphrates River cuts through Syria and Iraq, and connects with the Tigris River. The Tigris River flows across the northeastern boundary of Syria, cuts through Iraq and combines with the Euphrates River. After they combine, they dump into the Persian Gulf.

3. What is the total amount of water in Syria, Iraq and Turkey?

               The total amount of water in Syria, Iraq, and Turkey comes out to be about 15,860 square kilometers. There are 9,820 square kilometers for Turkey, 1,130 square kilometers for Syria, and 4,910 square kilometers for Iraq. Turkey has more water than the combined countries of Syria and Iraq.

4. Why is water scarce in Turkey, Syria and Iraq?

            One of the most obvious reasons that Turkey, Syria and Iraq are scarce of water is that they are in a very arid region. Another reason is that Turkey is holding the water from the Euphrates River. They are trying to start the construction of a dam there. While the Tigris River is still available, it is not enough for the two countries Syria and Iraq.

5. How is Britain related to the Turkish affairs with water?

              Some people relate the issue of Turkey damming the Euphrates River to Britain. They say that Britain is to blame, because they are funding the dam. Not only are they funding the dam, but they are convincing the Turkey parliament to dam the river. Britain sends an ambassador every other month to discuss this issue with the Turkish government.

6. How are Syria and Iraq handling the blockage of water from Turkey?

            Syria and Iraq are trying to find an alternate water source that they can use, but their options are very limited and have not been successful. They have also been negotiating with Turkish officials for a little over two and a half years now, with no real results. One of the main ways that they are trying to handle the blockage of water from Turkey is that they are trying to persuade Britain to stop funding Turkey’s dam. They have sent officials and ambassadors to Britain, and have tried to sort everything out with little success.

7. Why is water considered to be more valuable than oil in the Middle East?

In some areas of the Middle East, water is scarcer than oil. At one point, these areas, including parts of Iraq, were deciding on selling oil at cheaper prices than water. This was turned down immediately due to the fact that oil was worth much more in other areas of the world, and that those areas were willing to pay a great amount of money for oil. It is also estimated that oil will last in the Middle East for another 124 years. Freshwater, however, will only last its growing population about another 66 years. Due to this fact, some people consider oil to be less valuable that water in the countries of the Middle East. 

8. What are the motives or causes that made Turkey want to dam the Euphrates River?

            Turkey has many reasons that make it want to dam the Euphrates River. One of these reasons is its growing population. Its current population is 69,660,559 people, with an annual growth of 1.09%. Turkey’s population is more than Iraq and Syria’s populations combined. This makes Turkey believe that their need for water is more important than both Iraq’s and Syria’s needs for it. Turkey’s manufacturing and farming industries have also risen dramatically throughout the last decade, enabling it to use more water than it usually would. In conclusion, Turkey’s main reason for damming the Euphrates River is that it believes that its uses and needs for water surpasses Iraq and Syria’s uses and needs for it.

9. What kinds of problems will the Middle East face if the problem of water scarcity goes unsolved?

          If the problem of water scarcity is not solved then more conflicts between the countries will arise. Growing populations, higher standards, of living and higher levels o water consumption will lead to greater arguments over the water of the counries who share the rivers.

10. What is our opinion on Turkey’s plans for damming the Euphrates River?

Turkey should not dam the Euphrates River. If it does, it is will be both inconsiderate and harmful to Syria and Iraq. While it does have a higher population and a higher manufacturing rater than both of these countries, it sill should not have the right to block the Euphrates River. It will cause the manufacturing and farming of the other countries below it to suffer, and leave many families without water. Another reason that Turkey should not dam the Euphrates River is that it might cause a spark in the minds of Iraq and Syria, so that they would be convinced to wage war against Turkey. This would start an even bigger problem than that of the water shortage.