The river basins of South East Asia have been the subject of a
number of studies shedding light on the complexity of their
natural, political, social and economic issues. Although the
diversity of these studies and reports serves as a knowledge
base for the basins, one can rarely find a study that provides a
holistic view of the water-related vulnerabilities in the basins.
This report is one of the outputs of the Vulnerability
Assessment of Freshwater Resources to Environmental
Change project, presenting a situation analysis with regard to
the vulnerability of water resources system in South East Asia.
In addition to the more general South East Asian water issues
addressed herein, the report considers Mekong River Basin in
detail as a case study. Though the Mekong River Basin (MRB)
is currently not characterized by either water shortages or
open conflicts, it warrants attention due to the potential future
threats that might arise from development pressures and
transboundary issues.