Morocco Enters Global Drought Hotspot List, Report Warns
The study, released by the US-based National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) in partnership with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), identifies Morocco, Spain, and Turkey as the hardest-hit countries in the Mediterranean basin.
It draws on hundreds of scientific, governmental, and media sources to track drought pressure globally between 2023 and 2025.
In Morocco, the report indicates that drought has long defined the country's climate. However, dry spells have become more and more persistent and intense since the early 1900s. This change now risks converting already strained ecosystems into intensely arid zones.
The report states that Morocco 'should become more arid over the course of the 21st century,' with droughts expected to strike more often and with greater force. Water availability, already at a critical level of 645 cubic meters per person in 2015, could fall to 500 cubic meters by 2050.
Projections toward the end of the century show rainfall dropping by as much as 65% in key mountain basins in the High Atlas, further weakening the country's already fragile water cycle.
Agriculture and rural life under strain
The fallout has already reached homes, farms, and businesses. Low dam levels and depleted groundwater have led to water restrictions in several regions, affecting both daily life and major economic sectors. Agriculture, in particular, faces growing difficulty.
The report points to hefty losses in cereal and vegetable yields, which have undermined farmers' incomes. The downturn has set off a chain reaction, affecting rural employment and stoking fears of social instability in vulnerable areas.
According to the report, Morocco's adaptive capacity remains low despite investments in modern infrastructure and sensitization.
Urgency for policy shifts
To slow down the crisis, the NDMC calls for stronger water demand management, quicker diversification of supply sources through desalination and wastewater recycling, and better preparedness for future drought episodes.
The report calls for community involvement and local awareness in order to build long-term resilience.
Morocco could otherwise face the prospect of recurrent crises, compounded by climate patterns that no longer follow old rhythms, it warns. Tags: droughtMoroccowater deficitwater reserves
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