The Aral Sea Basin consists of the drainage area of two major rivers, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya. The rivers originate in the Tien Shan Mountains and the Pamirs, and run through Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. An estimated 116 km3 is diverted for irrigation, one of the key drivers of economic growth, employment, poverty reduction, and food security in the region. Despite emerging water stress, water continues to be used in a particularly wasteful manner.