According to Mohammad Raafi Hossain, UN FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization), the Middle East is suffering the worst dry period in a century which could also increase global food prices.
Within the last 100 years there has been no five-year span as dry as present. To various extents drough is affecting nearly two thirds of the arable land across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian territories, and Iraq. Israel is not affected so much because of its desalination capacity and water management. Civil conflict and lack of water storage facilities will add to the problem in Syria and Iraq.

Already in February, NASA reported that GRACE satellite data showed that the Middle East has lost 144 m² of groundwater reserves between 2003 and 2009, largely due to well drilling.

• Middle East Suffering Worst Dry Period in a Century,
  Water21 April 2014, 4.
• Satellite Missions Improve Water Estimates,
  Matteo Luccio,
  Sensors & Systems Jun 17 2013.