Temperature rise in the Mediterranean countries

This summer of the year 2000 has carried drastic climatic changes. While the heat wave and warming which has hit for several weeks several Mediterranean states at a new record of drought as temperatures exceeded 40 degrees in all the Mediterranean states. Some capitals are witnessing the highest degrees temperature averages in many years.

The temperature in Istanbul reached 44 degrees, the highest since 70 years and the Turkish government announced Thursday and today ( Friday) as days off in the government's sector as the heat wave which hit most of the Turkish areas resulted in the death of 18 persons.

However, conditions in the Middle East and north Africa seems more dangerous as this region is threatened of a great shortage in foodstuffs and the increase of desertification in arable lands.

In Syria, the wave of drought has been continued since last winter.

The delay of rainfall threatens to increasing mortality in the country's cattle herds.

Cereal production in Syria decreased to almost its half in 1999 and it reached because of rainfall shortage some 2.5 million from 4.11 million in 1998.

Syria has repeatedly accused Israel of stealing its waters and underground water reservoir in the Golan that Israel has been occupying since 1967.

Iraq which had witnessed in 1999 a decrease in its rivers water level estimated at 45%, is facing threats of drought this year. A matter which makes necessary for its to invest the Turkish waters.

In Morocco, the drought this year and for the second running year, according to the Moroccan ministry of agriculture, resulted in a loss of a crop of 4 million hectares of cereals and vegetables, estimated at a loss of US $ 900 million in profits and the loss of some 50 million working day in the agricultural arable lands.

Meantime, the authorities in Tunisia announced that a series of measures were taken in June to help farmers who are victims of the drought.