How Does Water Create Conflict?

Water shortages are becoming increasingly important as there is no alternative for our survival, and the locations of the remaining sources have caused many conflicts, making the problem worse. For example, the Tigris and Euphrates river basin in the Middle East has caused disputes over the ownership of their water supply. Iraq have accused Turkey and Syria of holding back water supply through the construction of dams in the upper course of both rivers, which escalated hostilities particularly in the 1970s, but has also been related to the threat of the countries' national security today.