Despite the slight improvement from last year, experts say recent rainfall wasn’t enough to compensate for ongoing water shortages. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries said that the country needs to stay vigilant, especially as drought years become more frequent. Tunisia raises drinking water prices by up to 16% due to drought.

Tunisia is particularly vulnerable to changes in rainfall as it relies on capturing surface water for much of its supply. Climate change has brought recurring drought after blistering summers, low rainfall and mild winters.

The North African country last year imposed a quota system for drinking water and a ban on its use in agriculture. Since last summer, it has been cutting off water supplies at night.

The Middle East and North Africa is one of the worst affected global regions when it comes to water stress with 83 per cent of people exposed to extremely high levels, according to research from the World Resources Institute. It predicts that this figure will rise to 100 per cent by 2050.

Since April 2023, state-owned water distribution company Sonede has cut off the main water supply every night. Throughout most of Tunisia, these cuts last more than 10 hours, and some areas have faced cuts for multiple days. Furthermore, since March 2023, Tunisia has banned the use of drinking water for irrigation.A