Examples of regions where water shortages caused migration or unrest

Numerous regions have experienced migration or unrest directly linked to water shortages, illustrating the social and political instability that can arise from worsening scarcity.nytimes+2​

Middle East and North Africa

• Syria: Prolonged drought from 2006–2011 led to the migration of over 1.5 million people from rural areas into cities, intensifying unemployment and spurring discontent that contributed to the 2011 uprisings and subsequent civil war.siwi+2​

• Iran: Chronic water crisis and drought have triggered migration from rural areas to towns and cities, with rising frustration, protests, and unrest in smaller towns hit hardest by water shortages.newsweek+1​

• Iraq, Basra: Deteriorating water quality due to reduced river flow and pollution led to widespread illness, mass protests, and eventual migration out of the area.bbc+1​

• Yemen: Severe water mismanagement and drought have forced rural populations to migrate to cities, but urban scarcity often remains worse, amplifying social strain.wri+1​

Africa

• Darfur, Sudan: Competition for scarce water and land between herders and farmers fueled conflict, displacement, and large-scale violence, exemplifying how environmental stress can exacerbate political and ethnic tensions.globalwaterforum+1​

• Sahel Region: Persistent drought has repeatedly triggered mass migrations and contributed to instability, including farmer-herder clashes and the rise of insurgent groups exploiting vulnerable communities.thecioglobal+1​

Other Notable Cases

• Mexico (Chihuahua/La Boquilla Dam): Severe drought led to violent protests, when local farmers seized a dam to prevent water being transferred away, escalating into direct conflict with authorities.csis​

• American Southwest: Ongoing drought and over-extraction of the Colorado River have escalated tensions among states and communities dependent on this critical water source.thecioglobal​

• India: Water shortages have repeatedly sparked public demonstrations and unrest in multiple regions facing chronic supply issues.nytimes​

• Easter Island (Historical): Deforestation and resource depletion led to civil war, population collapse, and social fragmentation.encyclopedie-environnement​

These examples highlight how water shortages can force the movement of people, trigger discontent, and, in the worst cases, fuel violence and state fragility—risks expected to intensify as climate change and population pressures grow.siwi+2​

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/18/climate/water-iran.html
2. https://thecioglobal.com/water-wars-climate-scarcity-and-the-looming-conflicts/
3. https://www.siwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2016-Water-Report-Chapter-1-FINAL-Web.pdf
4. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210816-how-water-shortages-are-brewing-wars
5. https://www.globalwaterforum.org/2023/06/29/people-move-where-water-flows-global-patterns-of-water-driven-human-migration/
6. https://www.newsweek.com/deadly-environmental-crises-iran-tehran-pollution-smog-11087744
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_conflict
8. https://www.wri.org/insights/highest-water-stressed-countries
9. https://climate-diplomacy.org/case-studies/water-shortages-and-public-discontent-yemen
10. https://premierscience.com/pjes-24-365/
11. https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-causes-water-conflict
12. https://www.encyclopedie-environnement.org/en/zoom/conflicts-caused-by-shortages/
13. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/water-stress-global-problem-thats-getting-worse
14. http://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/water-scarcity-and-human-immobility-identifying-internal-migration-patterns-driven
15. https://www.worldwater.org/conflict/list/
16. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0095069622000171
17. https://abcnews.go.com/International/17-countries-home-25-worlds-population-facing-water/story?id=64827506
18. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2019/06/water-scarcity-refugee-crisis-tech-solve-it/
19. https://www.voanews.com/a/water-shortages-could-trigger-mideast-unrest-112198384/157081.html
20. https://forumtogether.org/article/environmental-migration-finding-solutions-for-the-21st-century/