User:Amaini15/Northern Cyprus Water Supply Project/Bibliography

Background
Cyprus, an island in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea located off the southern coast of Turkey, has historically experienced prolonged drought periods that have impacted both the agricultural and distributive sectors greatly. In the past 90 years or so, the average annual rainfall in the region has fell about 64 mm, illustrating increasing evidence of the adverse effects of global climate and temperature change in Cyprus. Cyprus has been increasingly observing issues regarding the water supply in the last two decades, especially with lowered water tables recorded in 66 aquifers and the strain on groundwater availability that the undertaking of civil projects in the region has caused. Additionally, in 2008, drastic measures were taken in Cyprus when the region had recorded its lowest water storage, and water had to be imported. When the project approached completion, the President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce expressed his gratitude and hope for the project, citing its potential to increase agricultural production, diminish water scarcity, and improve the Cypriot economy.

The Northern Cyprus Water Supply Project also raised questions regarding opportunities for women to become involved and counteract existing social norms/hierarchies in the Middle East. Water management along with other natural resources proves to require collaboration amongst genders, yet this does not seem to be a prominent aspect in Cyprus. A comprehensive review of interviews of women in the region of interest illustrates that women were not included in water policy provisions, and no women were standing members of the Water Commission created by the organization that oversees Cypriot engineering and architecture

The Northern Cyprus Water Supply Project acted in compliance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically goal 2 of "Zero Hunger," with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture and food security.

Project(added citation necessary)
Cyprus is short of surface water and groundwater due to inadequate rainfall. The project aims to supply Northern Cyprus with water from Turkey for a timespan of 50 years. Of the 75 million m³ water, 37.76 million m³ (50.3%) will be used for drinking purposes and the remaining part (49.7%) will be allocated for irrigation. Following the realization of the project, irrigated farming at an area of 4,824 ha (11,920 acres) in Mesaoria Plains, one of largest plains of the island, will help improve the standard of living in the region.

The total investment cost of the project is budgeted at ₺ 782 million (approx. US$432 million) consisting of ₺ 45.6 million (approx. US$25.2 million) for structures in Turkey, ₺ 630 million (approx. US$348 million) for the undersea pipeline and ₺ 26.9 million (approx. US$14.9 million) for the structures in Northern Cyprus.