Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The per capita share of water in Jordan is further declining due to the influx of Syrian refugees, dropping to a minimal 120 cubic metres (cm) per year, said water and irrigation minister Hazem Nasser.

He said the latest figures regarding water consumption are well below the international water poverty line of about 120cm set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"Jordan is 88 per cent below the (international) water poverty line," he said, noting that the Kingdom is the second or third poorest country in water resources, according to international classification, and highlighted the serious impact of the refugees’ influx on the resource-poor Kingdom.

Nasser said the water scarcity has been posing socio-economic and political pressures prompting authorities to allocate extra funding as they try to find water sources through high-cost projects such as the Dissi water conveyance project, building dams and desalinating water to ensure "acceptable minimum levels" of supplies that meet WHO specifications.

However, the minister referred the water poverty to other reasons, foremost being a rising population, drought and scarce rains that feed springs, particularly in remote regions.

*Petra