The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is witnessing a notable rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. This trend underscores the region's growing vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change, which manifest in various forms such as droughts, forest fires, heatwaves, and floods. Communities in the region are increasingly feeling the impact and distress caused by such events. The problem lies in the fact that MENA countries are not ready and resilient enough to face the consequences of such increasing extreme events. The rising incidence of extreme weather events in MENA underscores the urgent need for better preparedness and integration of adaptive strategies into national planning to mitigate economic and social challenges.
With this in mind, the paper at hand explores the adverse effects of extreme weather events in the MENA region, particularly focusing on their impact on agriculture, water resources, tourism, infrastructure, and population dynamics, as these sectors and aspects are impacted most heavily and are essential for the development of the region. It also examines existing challenges that hinder government resilience, including political, socio-economic, funding, and budget allocation challenges and evaluates existing methods for increased resilience, like early warning systems and regional cooperation as a mechanism and platform, while considering their limitations. Based on the findings, the paper draws conclusions to address the vulnerabilities and enhance resilience of MENA countries and populations against extreme weather events.
