In times of scarcity, nations compete more fiercely to meet their essential needs and defend precious commodities. Water is no exception , particularly the water of the Mekong River of mainland Southeast Asia. Mekong translates to "mother of rivers," and the river lives up to its name, providing water in six different countries for agriculture, trade and millions of people. Originating in the remote Tibetan Plateau, the river rolls 3,000 miles through China's Yunnan province, northeast Myanmar , and the lowlands of Thailand , Laos and Cambodia before spilling into the South China Sea in southern Vietnam . The river and its water are a vital resource that requires intense domestic and international coordination to manage. But the Mekong region is currently in a severe drought, in part because of El Nino weather patterns .