AMMAN — Jordanians took to the streets this summer to protest water shortages and disruptions. Some demonstrators burned tires and blocked roads while others carried empty plastic gallons in the street symbolizing the scarcity of water in their homes.

Jordan is the world’s fourth-poorest country in terms of water resources per capita, according to the World Bank. According to U.N. data, 80 percent of Jordanian territory is desert and only 5 percent of its land is considered arable.

In late summer, the government Water Authority had to hire guards to protect main water wells and infrastructure in remote regions against the theft of pumps and other parts.

“Every village and city in Jordan right now is only receiving water once a week,” said Basem Telfah, secretary general of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. “Some provinces are receiving water once every two or three weeks.”

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AMMAN — On a warm day late last month a crowd filed into a white tent outside the royal palaces in Amman to hear a much-anticipated speech by King Abdullah II on the country’s political future.

Although the invitees included various dignitaries — former politicians, tribal leaders, journalists, even Islamists — they included only a few women: and when the men interrupted the speech to chant loyalty slogans, those few seemed to disappear from sight entirely.

In his speech, the king encouraged participation in the elections, which are expected in January, and spoke about street protests, saying calls for overthrowing the regime were “regrettable.” He said that “every individual in this society is part of this regime.” But he failed to mention the current struggle for women’s rights in Jordan, which he has mentioned in the past.

Since popular uprisings swept the region, the Jordanian government has stated that political and economic reforms are key to the country’s future stability and prosperity. Yet, despite the formation of numerous committees and commissions, there has been little emphasis on women’s issues.

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