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Climate uncertainty could lead to an increase in conflicts, as tensions over scarce resources like water can cause tensions. Credit: Ignatius Banda/IPS
– Years ago, warnings were made that future wars would not be over oil but over water. These predictions were dismissed as alarmist.
However, as Africa’s climate changes impact water availability, researchers have found that conflicts over water resources can arise within local communities and across borders.
In a January commentary, the following was stated: Global Water Partnership (GWP) called for immediate action from world leaders to provide resources and funds to tackle what the researchers say is the “worst drought in a generation in East Africa.”
The climate crisis has caused widespread shortages of pastures, decimating livestock, creating a humanitarian crisis.
East Africa has experienced a cyclical climate crises where a mixture of Floods and droughtsThis has led to increasing calls for action by more affluent nations.
“In 2011, the last severe drought to affect this region killed hundreds of thousands, but since then and despite promises by the international community, little has changed,” GWP says.
“There is a need to narrow the investment gap among rich countries, advocacy among African countries, and civic groups. African countries are already providing more funding to their water sectors than donor countries,” Alex Simalabwi, Global Water Partnership’s Africa Coordinator, told IPS.
The statistics are quite grim: almost three out of every three people in Africa live with water scarcity each day. 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa struggle with access to drinking waterAccording to the African Development Bank (AfDB), it is.
As UN Water starkly put it, “Half of those who drink water from unsafe sources are Africans, according to a global survey.”
The United Nations Environment Programme, (UNEP) EstimatesIt is estimated that US$100 million annually must be invested in climate adaptation in Africa by 2050. However, this figure is far from being achieved.
UNICEF stated in a February 2 media brief that 6.8 million Ethiopians would require urgent water supplies by mid-March. Another 4.4 million are facing acute water shortages due to three consecutive droughts.
“The impact of the drought is devastating,” said Gianfranco Rotigliano, UNICEF Ethiopia Representative, adding that this has led to “major displacement out of affected areas.”
These displacements, according to researchers, have caused conflicts between communities over water.
“The lack of clean water is further exacerbating the situation for children and women. If children are forced to drink contaminated water, it puts them at risk to various diseases, including diarrhoea which is a major cause of deaths among children under five,” Rotigliano said.
Experts say increased collective action by African countries is required if richer countries act with the urgency demanded by the continent’s climate crisis.
“Africa countries should organise themselves to speak in one voice as a block. The example of Eastern Africa is a good one. Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) which has set up a common approach to addressing issues especially related to climate change,” said Levis Kavagi, the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Africa Regional Coordinator for Ecosystems and Biodiversity.
“Issues presented together as a group attract greater traction,” Kavagi told IPS by email.
Last year, Research commissioned and funded by CARE International, a humanitarian agency exposed the broken promises of what it said was a “decade-old pledge” of climate financing for developing countries.
“Water is often seen from the end-user point of view and its challenges, but the issues related to where the water comes from are often not given the limelight,” Kavagi said.
Lobbyists push for more action amid all these concerns.
“There is no framework to hold rich countries accountable,” Simalabwi told IPS.
Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of Britain Submitted in February 2020, “between now and 2050, Africa’s population is set to double. This is a great opportunity, but it also brings new realities. If we are not able to find ways to support these countries to grow sustainably, all of our work for decades in the UK and globally will be in vain.”
However, experts also note that the delay by rich countries to act is deeper.
“Rich countries may be reluctant to recognise, in financial terms, that Africa is disproportionately affected by anthropogenic climate change, including through water-related impacts because they could expose themselves to liabilities for billions of dollars in loss and damage payments,” said Nathan Mason, a research associate at the UK’s Overseas Development Institute.
“International NGOs, research and advocacy groups, and enlightened donors need to listen carefully to African counterparts, support their efforts and put them in the driving seat of funded programmes,” Mason told IPS by email.
Researchers remain concerned that East Africa and other countries facing drought and hunger will have to wait a bit longer to receive largesse from rich countries, as the climate-induced humanitarian crisis continues.
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