With profound sorrow, we watch the efforts to find the lost Haitham Al-Masbahin, a 17-year-old from Al-Hasa, my hometown, swept away by flash floods while herding livestock to support his unemployed father—a struggle shared by many in our community. Tragically, he drowned in deep phosphate mining excavations, underscoring the Southern Badia’s vulnerabilities. We must confront these challenges with courage and honesty to forge real solutions for a sustainable future.
اضافة اعلان
Jordan’s Badia, covering over 80% of the country, sustains unique ecosystems and resilient Bedouin communities but faces climate change, water scarcity, and economic marginalization. Unemployment exceeds 20%, and water shortages deepen food insecurity. Yet, the Badia’s rangelands and cultural heritage hold potential for ecotourism, renewable energy, and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). Jordan’s Vision 2025 and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, aligned with the Green Growth National Action Plan 2021–2025, prioritize sustainable development, but progress in the Southern Badia lags.
As a vital yet overlooked region, the Southern Badia shapes Jordan’s political landscape and regional stability. Its economic, social, environmental, and political challenges demand urgent action to strengthen governance, foster cohesion, and bolster Jordan’s role as a stabilizing force in the Middle East.
Key Challenges in the Southern Badia
Economic Marginalization : The Southern Badia, one of Jordan’s poorest regions, suffers from high unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, and fragmented governance. Without viable economic projects, communities rely on livestock herding, increasingly unsustainable due to desertification and costly fodder. Ineffective water harvesting policies push residents toward low-wage garment factories with poor conditions and minimal training.
This economic hardship fuels discontent, reflecting grievances against inequality and government neglect. Temporary measures, rather than comprehensive reforms, risk escalating tensions, threatening Jordan’s stability. Without bold economic action, protests may emerge, challenging modernization efforts.
Weakened Local Leadership: Successive governments have sidelined the Southern Badia’s active leaders, appointing officials disconnected from local realities. This has widened the gap between state policies and community needs, undermining development. My initiative to unite six Southern Badia municipalities into a cohesive union in 2008, as Mayor of Al-Hasa, aimed to bridge this gap, but ongoing marginalization has fueled political apathy. Recent parliamentary and municipal elections saw low turnout, with youth supporting opposition parties like the Islamic Action Front, driven by unemployment and lack of opportunity. This trend threatens Jordan’s political modernization.
Drug Proliferation Perceived state neglect has allowed drug use, particularly hashish laced with hallucinogens, to rise in the Southern Badia. While small-scale dealers are targeted, larger networks operate unchecked, increasing crime and accidents. The lack of addiction data, especially among minors, hinders solutions. Screening tests and robust anti-drug strategies are urgently needed to address community anger and restore safety.
Jordan’s Role in Regional Stability Jordan’s ability to address the Southern Badia’s challenges is critical to its role as a pillar of stability amid conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and the Israeli-Palestinian arena. Its moderate foreign policy, peace treaty with Israel, and counterterrorism partnerships with the U.S. and NATO allies underscore its strategic importance. Investing in the Southern Badia can enhance this role, fostering resilience and reinforcing Jordan’s image as a model of stability.
Steps Toward a Sustainable Future : To transform the Southern Badia, I propose:
Economic Empowerment:Establish a (real and effective) vocational training center in Al-Hasa, repurposing Jordan Phosphate Company buildings to teach skills like heavy machinery maintenance and digital technologies, creating 500 jobs by 2027 (aligned with the Badia Ecosystem and Livelihoods Project).
Develop phosphate processing plants for fertilizers with environmental safeguards, invest in copper mining, and promote ecotourism.
Expand water harvesting for rangeland reclamation, boosting livestock productivity by 15%, as in IUCN’s EbA pilots.
Strengthened Governance:Build on my 2008 initiative uniting six Southern Badia municipalities (Al-Hasa, Al-Qatrana, Al-Jafr, Al-Husseiniya ...) into Jordan’s first Municipal Union, which grew to 29 members. This union coordinated budgets (500,000–750,000 JOD annually per municipality), shared resources, and advocated for regional needs, enhancing governance and community representation. Reviving and expanding such unions can empower local leaders, bridge policy gaps, and boost participation.
Appoint competent governors who understand the Badia, fostering inclusive community partnerships.
Anti-Drug Measures: Conduct addiction screenings to assess drug prevalence and develop rehabilitation programs. Strengthen law enforcement against drug networks, supporting community-led prevention.
Regional Leadership: Leverage Badia investments to enhance Jordan’s mediation in peace processes and counterterrorism, reinforcing its stabilizing role.
Haitham’s tragedy is a call to action for Southern Badia. By addressing economic marginalization, revitalizing governance through initiatives like the Municipal Union, combating drugs, and investing in sustainable projects, Jordan can unlock the region’s potential. These steps will uplift Badia communities and fortify Jordan’s stability and regional influence. The time for bold solutions is now.
Eng. Rana Khalaf Al-Hajaia
Email:
[email protected]
Phone: +962 79 727 4707
