The Euphrates River, the Middle East’s second longest river, and the Tigris, have historically been at the centre of conflict. In the 1980s, Saddam Hussein drained 90% of the vast Mesopotamian marshes that were fed by the two rivers to punish the Shias who rose up against his regime. Since 1975, Turkey’s dam and hydropower constructions on the two rivers have cut water flow to Iraq by 80% and to Syria by 40%. Both Syria and Iraq have accused Turkey of hoarding water and threatening their water supply.
Sedan 1975 har Turkiet stoppat 80% av det vatten som Irak brukade få. Landet mellan de två floderna, är på väg att bli ett ökenland. I framtiden kommer krigen inte handla om olja eller religion eller nationalitet, utan om vatten. Medan Turkiet tillgodoser sina energibehov, törstar folk, eftersom ISIS och andra grupper försöker ta kontroll över dammar och floder.