UN-Habitat: Arab region is among most water-stressed areas

The Arab region is currently one of the areas in the world suffering most from water scarcity, Rania Hedeya, representative of the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States, said during the event Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient Arab Cities: From Local Action to Urban Transformation held within the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

According to her, the Arab region faces increasing pressures from rapid urbanization, water shortages, land degradation, and climate change: "More than 60% of the Arab region's population now lives in cities, which naturally increases pressure on infrastructure and natural resources. Fourteen of the world's 25 most water-scarce countries are located in our region. Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and environmental degradation threaten livelihoods, infrastructure, and the resilience of our cities."

The official noted that in some parts of the region, these challenges are further aggravated by conflicts, leading to damaged infrastructure, degraded ecosystems, and loss of livelihoods: "This increases vulnerability and makes recovery and reconstruction more complex. It highlights the urgency of adopting effective, adaptable, and resilient solutions. This is where nature-based solutions come into play, and why this session is so important."

Hedeya emphasized that nature-based solutions provide practical and efficient ways to strengthen resilience: "They allow us to work in harmony with nature to combat climate risks, improve service delivery, restore ecosystems, and enhance quality of life in our cities. At UN-Habitat, nature-based solutions are a central part of our Strategic Plan for 2026–2029 and a key element in our support for sustainable urbanization in the region."