Who Is Responsible for Water?

Abstract

Abu Khalil, a cotton grower forced to abandon his Syrian farm because of a lack of water in 2013, was interviewed by columnist Thomas Friedman for the New York Times.¹ Friedman described severe water shortages in Syria as a primary culprit in sparking the tumultuous civil revolt that swept across the country beginning in 2011. “We could accept the drought because it was from Allah,” said Abu, “but we could not accept that the government would do nothing.” Syrian economist Samir Aita echoed that sentiment, telling Friedman, “The drought did not cause Syria’s civil war, but the failure of the government to respond … played a huge role in fueling the uprising.”