(MENAFN- Morocco World News) Rabat- Morocco is now among 45 countries facing water scarcity, according to World Resources Institute water scarcity map, which reveals Morocco's critical situation. Although Morocco is still far from the 'extremely high' ratio of water withdraw to supply, as the case in many Middle Eastern countries, the kingdom is still considered in water deficit. Morocco's volume of water has dropped by 80 percent to reach 500 cubic meters per inhabitant per year, against 2,500 cubic meters in 1960, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations data. According to L'Economiste, the establishment of a governmental emergency program that aims to provide drinking water for areas that are mainly reliant on vulnerable water sources and ensure the irrigation of fruit trees. In order to preserve water resources, a multi-year strategy has been developed. The national plan to secure water availability in Morocco demands an investment of MAD 200 million by 2030. Three sectors are primarily responsible for the overconsumption of water, namely, agriculture, industry, and households. Today, 40 percent of world's population is concerned by water scarcity; North African and Middle Eastern countries are especially affected, as water resources are becoming increasingly scarce, due to dry weather conditions and demographic growth. At the same time, over 80 percent of wastewater is discharged into rivers and the sea without any cleanup, representing the misuse of a sustainable source of water, energy, and other recoverable materials. Meanwhile, the demand for water is rising year after year, and need increases parallel to population growth. Morocco also figures among the regions that are running out of drinking water, which will impact several sectors, particularly agriculture and urbanization, in addition to affecting the country's overall"

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