March 22 is the world Water Day, which aims to encourage nations seek ways to overcome;
"water resources management crisis". That crisis means lack of correct laws and a political;
determination to solve the existing problem regarding world water resources.;
A major problem with regard to limited water reserves is increased number of people needing;
those reserves. Since everybody needs clean, fresh water, it is easy to imagine that future;
NO. 48, Vol. 16, Autumn 2008;
8;
wars will be over water. During the past 50 years, 37 instances of violence have broken out;
among countries over water and in all those cases save for seven cases, Middle East has been;
involved. According to studies carried out by the United Nations, water shortage is an acute;
problem throughout Middle East.;
Although those studies have indicated Iran and Iraq as two countries which are not still;
grappling with water shortage, if the current downturn in water resources continues, the two;
countries will be facing the crisis in the near future. Since Iran is located in a region which has;
been always facing water shortage, studies have indicated that per capita water quota will be;
below 1,000 cubic meters by 2050.;
Therefore, introducing a "global action plan" is necessary to ensure water access for all;
people. Also, considering public water access as a major component of human rights, formulating;
national and regional policies and increasing international aid to developing and underdeveloped;
states along with the said global action plan will be good steps to be taken to overcome;
this problem.;
The present paper will introduce some reliable indexes for determining water crisis while;
explaining the most important problems currently facing the world and Iran for access to sustainable;
water resources for different uses. In conclusion, suitable mechanisms for preventing;
unfavorable social, political, and economic conditions resulting from incorrect management of;
water resources and non-optimal consumption, which has led to water scarcity, will be presented.
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