Water is the Elixir of Life; it nurtures us, nourishes us, and sustains us and without it we could not survive. The world is in trouble because human actions combined with climate changes are causing water shortages and water scarcity in more and more regions. What most of us are unaware of are the conflicts and collaborations that have been on-going for years regarding water. Online research has led me to some interesting facts about world water conflicts.
Most of us that live in developed countries, or at least live in the wealthier areas of developed countries never give water a second choice. We simply open a tap and fresh, potable water flows out of it. We often waste this precious commodity unthinkingly because we have no concept what life without water or with little or no access to potable water means.
For others, especially those who live in poorer communities, those who live in developing countries, and those who live in arid and desert regions, water is more precious than gold or diamonds, and water conflicts are not unheard of.
Interesting Facts about World Water Conflicts
Climate changes are causing more droughts in some areas and more floods in others, and this is causing a strain on the world water supplies. There is a finite amount of water on earth that gets continuously recycled, so if one are is not getting rain, it makes sense that another area must be getting more than their fair share. Both droughts and floods come with a whole host of problems regarding potable water.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, water shortages are more likely to affect those areas which are already short of water, and this will lead to feuds over water supplies. More to the point, it will lead to more feuds and eventually to wars.
Researchers at Oregon State University spent a decade constructing a comprehensive database of international exchanges in order to tracks water disputes worldwide. This database includes both disputes and alliances made to overcome water scarcity. Shared water resources are often a source of heated exchanges and belligerent disputes, but thankfully most parties ultimately manage to reach peaceful agreements.
The database has tracked in excess of 2 000 incidents over shared river basins between 1990 and 2008. Events were graded in intensity – more events were collaborative than hostile:
- 9 events were intense enough to warrant hostile action such as troop movement or a disruption in the water supply;
- In around 400 events discordant language was used by leaders in either an unofficial or official setting;
- Close to 600 events led to mild verbal support in talks between leaders or to policy exchanges;
- In around 300 events, an agreement was reached between the nations involved to support river management or irrigation projects.
Despite this, there are concerns that there may be more hostile world water events in the future, and the database is tracking various hotspots where possible conflicts could erupt.
These hotspots include:
- Ethiopia: Construction began on the Grand Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, a tributary that supplies around 60% of the Nile, in 2011. Sudan and Egypt are concerned about the effect the dam will have on water-flow downriver. The dam is expected to be finished in 2017.
- Tajikistan: Plans to build the Rogun Hydroelectric Dam, which will be the tallest in the world when complete, on a tributary of the Amu Darya River. Neighbouring Uzbekistan, fearing irrigation shortfalls, has imposed travel restrictions and tariffs on Tajikistan.
- Laos: The construction of the Don Sahong Dam in a channel of the Mekong, which Cambodians fear may affect their fishing, and Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand are demanding a say in the plan for the dam.
- Turkey: In a boost to push electrical power capacity, Turkey constructed the Ilisu Dam on the Tigris River. There are fears that the dam could damage the already fragile Mesopotamian Marshes downstream in Iraq, or submerge the 12 000 year old settlement of Hasankeyf.
Although even the Indians and Pakistanis, and the Arabs and Israelis have thus far managed to resolve their differences and reach a peaceful solution, it is very possible that world water conflicts could become a reality in the not-so-distant future.
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