The war, which began on October 7, 2023 following Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel, has catastrophic consequences. However, the war has distracted attention from another crisis unfolding in the region: extreme heat and water shortages.
According to Foreign Policy, the heat index in Dubai reached 62 degrees Celsius in mid-July. In late June, the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, recorded a temperature of 51.6°C, coinciding with the Hajj season, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,300 people. In Egypt, the temperature has rarely dropped below +37°C since May.
This season’s persistent heat has reached critical levels of “wet bulb temperatures,” making it impossible to cool the body, leading to heat-related illnesses and deaths.
According to World Bank forecasts, water scarcity could reduce the region’s GDP by up to 14% by 2050. UNICEF warns that by 2025, Egypt could face a total depletion of water resources and the Nile River will be threatened.
The publication stresses that the climate crisis in this region could destabilise politics beyond its borders. Up to 19 million people in North Africa are expected to be forced to migrate to colder regions with access to water, with Europe as their main destination.
Previously, Cursor reported that only one percent of clean air remained on Earth.
