From Israel to Spain, UN report shows drought reshaping lives and economies

The relentless heatwave gripping Israel in recent days serves as a stark reminder that drought is not just a statistic in a report but a tangible reality already reshaping lives. A new United Nations report identifies key regions hit hardest by drought over the past two years, detailing its devastating impact on water supplies, food security and economic stability. The Mediterranean Basin, including Israel, stands out as increasingly vulnerable to prolonged dry spells, reduced rainfall and dwindling natural water sources. While Israel leads in technologies like desalination, this advantage does not exempt it from preparing for a drier future.

Slow stream in the Jordan River

(Video: Roie Rabin, Nature and Parks Authority)

The UN report outlines how droughts trigger severe water shortages, diminish food supplies and impose harsh restrictions on electricity consumption. Beyond these technical descriptions lie human stories of suffering. In South and East Africa, over 90 million people faced food insecurity, millions were displaced and tens of thousands died due to shortages of food and water.

In Zambia, reliant on hydroelectric power, the Zambezi River’s water levels dropped by 20%, slashing the output of the country’s largest hydroelectric plant to just 7% of capacity. This led to power outages lasting up to 21 hours daily, crippling essential services like hospitals.

In 2024, Morocco saw only 2.5 million dunams (617,763 acres) of crops planted, compared to 4 million dunams (988,421 acres) in a typical year. In Spain, March 2023 brought just 36% of average rainfall and April saw record-breaking heat with temperatures nearing 39°C (102°F), exacerbating water shortages and slashing agricultural yields. Across the Atlantic, the Panama Canal, a vital artery of global trade, faced significant disruptions in 2023. A 50% drop in rainfall lowered Lake Gatun’s water levels, which feed the canal, forcing authorities to limit ship passages and reduce cargo loads by up to 40%.

Water levels continued to decline, tightening weight restrictions and imposing fines for violations. Transit times through the canal, typically eight to ten hours, stretched to one to two weeks.

Drying streams in northern Israel

(Photo: Aviyahu Shapira)

The economic fallout became evident by December 2023 as the holiday season approached. Prolonged delays pushed shippers to costlier, longer alternative routes, slowing U.S. soybean exports, causing vegetable and fruit shortages in UK supermarkets and driving up prices worldwide.

The UN report flagged the Mediterranean Basin as a climate change hotspot, with droughts growing more frequent and severe since the 1950s. Forecasts predict temperature rises of 2–3°C (3.6–5.4°F) by 2050 and 3–5°C (5.4–9°F) by 2100, potentially reducing water availability by up to 15% for every 2°C (3.6°F) of warming.

Morocco, Spain and Turkey exemplify the region’s challenges, where rising temperatures and declining rainfall spark agricultural, economic and systemic crises.

“Israel isn’t singled out as an exception, but that doesn’t mean we’re immune,” said Prof. Efrat Morin, a hydro-meteorology expert at the Hebrew University’s Institute of Earth Sciences in Jerusalem. “Israel is part of the Mediterranean’s warming hotspot, with impacts felt in reduced rainfall, desertification, and strained water availability.”

Regions like the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights, disconnected from Israel’s national water carrier, saw a 30% drop in water sources this year, prompting the Finance Ministry to issue a drought relief order to compensate affected farmers. This step, while crucial, signals the need for broader preparedness.

Morin warned that even moderate reductions in rainfall can have outsized effects on water resources due to the non-linear response of natural water systems.

“In the coming decades, we expect a 20% drop in rainfall, which could halve the water stored in natural reservoirs like aquifers, streams, and lakes,” she explained. “This directly impacts stream flows, agricultural water supply and entire ecosystems.”

The report highlighted that drought vulnerability extends beyond geography to economic and social structures. Communities dependent on subsistence agriculture or natural water sources face heightened risks. Women, girls, indigenous groups and isolated populations are particularly vulnerable.

In some African regions, economic losses force girls to abandon education or enter early marriages for financial support. Even in Israel, advanced systems like desalination are not foolproof.

“Desalination is vital but energy-intensive and reliant on infrastructure and budgets,” Morin noted. “If it falters, we fall back on shrinking natural water sources. We must reduce waste, optimize agriculture for arid conditions and diversify water solutions.”

The UN report advocated for water-efficient agriculture, farmer insurance programs, community initiatives, and sustainable water management. Morin cautions against complacency, especially during occasional wet years. “We’re in a gradual process of declining rainfall, which is hard to notice but profoundly impactful,” she said.

“Climate change may not feel immediate like a tsunami, but its deep, ongoing effects threaten agriculture, water, ecosystems and vulnerable populations. The public and policymakers must take these changes seriously, building climate resilience and developing alternatives.”