Western Türkiye is facing a serious water crisis due to a mix of drought and high tourist demand. In the village of Germiyan, locals once drew water from just 8–9 meters deep, but now must dig 170 meters to find any. In Cesme, a busy seaside resort, drinking water is now limited to 10 hours a day. Izmir, Türkiye’s third-largest city, will reduce water access to just six hours daily. A nearby dam is nearly empty, with only 3% of its capacity left. Locals blame tourism, saying hotels waste water on pools, laundry, and frequent showers. Experts agree that tourists use 2–3 times more water than locals. They suggest seawater pools and less water-hungry gardens. Hotel owners prefer costly desalination or worry about losing guests. Meanwhile, long-time residents say poor planning, fewer trees, and climate change have made summers drier and living harder. Many fear worse shortages ahead.
Pray for wise counsel for the authorities to tackle the drought and water scarcity in Türkiye. Pray for divine provision for all the people in Türkiye, especially in the western region, during this time of uncertainty. Pray for food security and economic stability in the country (The Holy Bible, Psalm 118:25).
Lord Holy Spirit, open the eyes and minds of the unreached people in Türkiye for the Truth. Make them thirsty for the ‘Living Water’. (The Holy Bible, John 4:10).
News Source: France24
Image Source: Canva
