![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2CTCI7IAWYQSVJZTBHK7DUTXFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=42e15da075d4dd4544e8f760d6249496ed837ed7f83658c6aef85961a179b7cb&width=400&height=225)
A man walks on the banks of the Euphrates.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OGARIKAQT6PZLNAEBON5WS2I6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=addcb1d581ace33287dee4f4a5990e6181b8afcd36560b23e2d7341aca659e3c&width=400&height=225)
Fishermen in the Euphrates river, in western Raqqa, Syria. All photos: AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4PPKE3UM4FFWTDDANQXH2BQHRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d9aa078cc8c44fa07cfe54df429dc2b3a32640784d73a8dd899712da6f753f7b&width=400&height=225)
The Euphrates is the longest river in Syria and one of the most important in the Middle East.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTHVQE34UBDABKHBFCFNRZ2S7I.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f1159810ee829bd33c344ae373459ce83411931971dbeb60ab09886cdb5c298&width=400&height=225)
It flows from Turkey through Syria and Iraq, joining the Tigris river in Shatt Al Arab.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DG43PHSK3NCINNECN7VN7RR7NU.jpg?smart=true&auth=75998ff5e2260ee02af839f076c64fde9f9519f72a4a8cc6f46edc6cd41522c6&width=400&height=225)
In 1987, Turkey and Syria signed an agreement that the former would send 500 cubic metres of water per second down the Euphrates river.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RCRBBMHZIWBC5N4YFZLHQS3UTY.jpg?smart=true&auth=54542ddf8888feb9f81832bdd83d137bb02d1f598bc19846d6ef7e344057af54&width=400&height=225)
The volume is now down to 200 cubic metres per second.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/35HUPLH3ERGSJPKUDKXRJT6QBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e43cb523d74321cbc5e34a22432755b7fd448fac86916e500ea6d88d28a3c4ee&width=400&height=225)
Low water levels in the river are largely being caused by rising temperatures, low rainfall and drought.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W3PCO6SSAE6B4JBM36HRXQ4BII.jpg?smart=true&auth=d5eda841fc76bf4a974452224cc5c3628f5026e6da0bf3c6ba00fb668be66630&width=400&height=225)
The decrease in the volume of water affects the supply for drinking water, agriculture and electricity being produced by hydroelectric dams.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VSIZWGFJMJBIVLJ62IHXJETDI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f37d4f651a227aa4181120b0f8420929388823d85f1c39a93cd908ed85b5f244&width=400&height=225)
More than five million people in the country depend on the Euphrates river.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2CTCI7IAWYQSVJZTBHK7DUTXFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=42e15da075d4dd4544e8f760d6249496ed837ed7f83658c6aef85961a179b7cb&width=400&height=225)
A man walks on the banks of the Euphrates.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OGARIKAQT6PZLNAEBON5WS2I6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=addcb1d581ace33287dee4f4a5990e6181b8afcd36560b23e2d7341aca659e3c&width=400&height=225)
Fishermen in the Euphrates river, in western Raqqa, Syria. All photos: AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4PPKE3UM4FFWTDDANQXH2BQHRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d9aa078cc8c44fa07cfe54df429dc2b3a32640784d73a8dd899712da6f753f7b&width=400&height=225)
The Euphrates is the longest river in Syria and one of the most important in the Middle East.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTHVQE34UBDABKHBFCFNRZ2S7I.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f1159810ee829bd33c344ae373459ce83411931971dbeb60ab09886cdb5c298&width=400&height=225)
It flows from Turkey through Syria and Iraq, joining the Tigris river in Shatt Al Arab.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DG43PHSK3NCINNECN7VN7RR7NU.jpg?smart=true&auth=75998ff5e2260ee02af839f076c64fde9f9519f72a4a8cc6f46edc6cd41522c6&width=400&height=225)
In 1987, Turkey and Syria signed an agreement that the former would send 500 cubic metres of water per second down the Euphrates river.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RCRBBMHZIWBC5N4YFZLHQS3UTY.jpg?smart=true&auth=54542ddf8888feb9f81832bdd83d137bb02d1f598bc19846d6ef7e344057af54&width=400&height=225)
The volume is now down to 200 cubic metres per second.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/35HUPLH3ERGSJPKUDKXRJT6QBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e43cb523d74321cbc5e34a22432755b7fd448fac86916e500ea6d88d28a3c4ee&width=400&height=225)
Low water levels in the river are largely being caused by rising temperatures, low rainfall and drought.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W3PCO6SSAE6B4JBM36HRXQ4BII.jpg?smart=true&auth=d5eda841fc76bf4a974452224cc5c3628f5026e6da0bf3c6ba00fb668be66630&width=400&height=225)
The decrease in the volume of water affects the supply for drinking water, agriculture and electricity being produced by hydroelectric dams.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VSIZWGFJMJBIVLJ62IHXJETDI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f37d4f651a227aa4181120b0f8420929388823d85f1c39a93cd908ed85b5f244&width=400&height=225)
More than five million people in the country depend on the Euphrates river.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2CTCI7IAWYQSVJZTBHK7DUTXFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=42e15da075d4dd4544e8f760d6249496ed837ed7f83658c6aef85961a179b7cb&width=400&height=225)
A man walks on the banks of the Euphrates.