UN Warns Risk Of Regional Conflict As Water Stress Increases

The United Nations reported that stress on water resources, which is exacerbated by the climate crisis as well as misuse and pollution of the world's freshwater systems, are major sources of local and regional conflict.

Water Shortage And Conflict

The 2024 edition of UN-Water's flagship annual report on water concerns discusses how establishing and preserving a secure and equitable water future supports prosperity and peace for all, as well as how poverty, inequality, social tensions, and war can exacerbate water insecurity.

Access to water is critical in the confrontation between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Some observers have accused Israel of "weaponising" access to fresh water, citing Gaza's reliance on Israel for the majority of its water supply.

In Gaza, hundreds of thousands of children are suffering from severe hunger or are on the verge of starvation, while a scarcity of potable water is increasing thirst and interfering with medical treatment and sanitation.

According to the study's editor-in-chief, Rick Connor, water has frequently been used as a tool, target, or victim in battle, although it has rarely been the cause of war.

"Disputes over water can arise when demand exceeds supply, availability is jeopardized by pollution, access to a water allotment is restricted, or water delivery and sanitation services are interrupted," he added.

These challenges can range from legal challenges to violent altercations, and they frequently reflect event- and location-specific social, political, environmental, and demographic factors.

Water shortages and tensions over water have led to forced migration, food insecurity, and other health hazards, with particular risks for women and girls, according to the report.

International humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Convention, expressly prohibits the targeting of civilian water infrastructure.

Read Also: US Facing Dire Water Scarcity on its Biggest Freshwater Reserves, Says New Study

Women Suffers From Drought

The report also says that 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and by 2022, over half of the world's population will have experienced at least temporarily severe water scarcity.

As global temperatures rise, owing mostly to the use of fossil fuels, those figures are anticipated to worsen, as higher temperatures will bring more frequent and severe extreme weather events, including drought.

Women and girls are the first to suffer when drought strikes impoverished and rural regions, and water strategies around the world need to reflect this.

They are mostly responsible for water collection in poor and rural areas around the world, and a lack of proper sanitation contributes to girls dropping out of school and increases their vulnerability, as well as that of other women.

According to the research, freshwater use has been increasing by less than 1% per year, with agriculture accounting for around 70% of freshwater withdrawals and industrial and home usage accounting for 20% and 10%, respectively.

The United Nations has set a number of goals to guarantee that water, a critical source of life on Earth, stays available.

These goals state that by 2030, there should be universal and equal access to clean and inexpensive drinking water, appropriate and equitable sanitation and hygiene, less water pollution, and increased water-use efficiency.

Related Article: Water Crisis: UN Issues Warning Against 'Thirsty New Technologies' Disguising as Solutions to Depleting Water Resources