"Water: Source for conflict or cooperation?

An African Perspective."

Prof. Isiorho (PhD), Dept of Geosciences

Water

“Water is indispensable for life, not only for drinking water, but also for raising crops for food. Fishing provides a major source of protein for much of the world's population. Throughout history, cities and villages have grown up near sources of water, for drinking, sustenance, and transportation.

… Water-borne diseases remain a significant source of mortality in many developing countries.”

How do we get our water?

We only pay attention when there is water related problem in the news

Pesticides…latest news… March 4, 2006

Talk Outline

Long Introduction Hydrologic (Water) cycle Water availability

Water Conflicts: Fact or Myth?...Reasons for ConflictHistorical Perspective 1990s

Water Conflicts by Regions By regions:

Middle East, Asia, Central America, North America & Africa

Lake Chad Basin Sources of water Nature of Lake Chad Nature & importance of Lake Chad Conflicts… Limiting factors Solutions

Conclusion

Introduction

Water

Nearly one third of the world population (~4 billion people) will experience severe water shortage within the next 20 years

Hydrologic cycle

All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full: unto the place where the rivers come thither they return again. Eccl. 1:7

WaterWhat do you know about water?Surface water-Rivers & -Lakes

Ground water

Introduction

Surface watersThere are over 214 major rivers shared by

two or more countries e.g. Amazon, Euphrates, Danube, Jordan, Niger

About 97 % of surface water in Egypt is from outside the nation

GroundwaterPrecipitation…1/3 runoff, 1/3 evaporation & 1/3 groundwater

Sources of groundwater… precipitation, lakes, rivers, storm retention ponds and wastewater treatment… cesspool, septic system

What is groundwater?

Aquifer- Open & Closed

Water Availability: Sample countries

Water Related Conflicts

Are there really water related conflicts?

Potential Reasons for Conflict

Unequal distribution of water

Inefficient water use

Increase in Population

Pollution

Rising Cost of water Inflexibility, inefficient,and inequitable agreements

for managing waters

Control (Politics) Much of world’s most accessible freshwater

supplies are located in basins and aquifers that cross international borders

Resolving ConflictsTwo Traditional Doctrines

Doctrine of unlimited territorial sovereignty states that a country has exclusive rights to the waters within its territory.. First used by US (India is doing the same)

Unlimited Territorial integrity states that one country cannot alter the quantity and quality of water available to another (Egypt)

Equitable and reasonable use

Water Related Conflicts Historical Perspective

. 1503 Florence and Pisa warring states military tool (MT)1642 China Ming Dynasty (MT)1863 United States Civil War US Grant (MT)1898 Egypt; France and Britain MT and Political

Water Related Conflicts Historical Perspective Contd.

1944-1945 Multiple parties Military targets involving German, Italy, Britain, United States … Isoletta Dam (Liri R.) British Royal Air Force bombed dams on Mohne, Sorpe, Eder Rivers .. Killing 1,200 & destroying dams downstream

Flooding of area occupied by US troop, Ay river valley flooded, and also flooding of II River valley creating a lake 16 km long, 3-6 Km wide and 1-2 meters deep

Water Related Conflicts in the 1990s

1991 Iraq Kuwait

1995 Ecuador Peru military over head waters of Cenepa River

1997 Singapore, Malaysia Political

1999 Lusaka Zambia terrorism on water pipe line to city of Lusaka (3 m people)

1999 Kosovo Terrorism contamination of water supplies/wells

1999-2000 Namibia, Botswana, Zambia .. Zambezi/Chobe rivers border dispute and access to water

Water Conflicts by Regions

Middle East

Arab-Israel-

Rivers & Groundwater

1948 Arabs Israelis … Arab forces cut off West Jerusalem water supply

Water Conflicts by Regions

Middle East

TurkeyEuphrates

Water Conflicts by Regions

Asia

Ganges – originates in China passing through Nepal

Especially between Bangladesh and Indian

India versus Pakistan over the Indus River

Water Conflicts by Regions

Central AmericaMexico and GuatemalaUsumacinte, Suchiate and Grijala Rivers

originate in Guatemala and enter into Mexico…. Agreement based on principle of equitable, rational and optimum utilization

Water Conflicts by Regions

North America

Rio Grande, Colorado and Tijuan rivers between US and Mexico

Water Conflicts by Regions

Africa

West Africa- Lake Chad

Sources of Water

Surface Rain …May to September Rivers…Chari/Lagone, ElBeid Lakes…Lake Chad Ponds…

Groundwater Shallow Deep

Nature of Lake Chad

Watershed

Productivity

Size

Depth

Shoreline

Lake Chad Basin

ProductivityFish & Others

Size & Depth

Shoreline (Dec. 2002)

Importance of Lake Chad

Political Boundary

Provides Protein (Fish)

Importance of Lake Chad

Provides jobs

Provides water

Importance of Lake Chad

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo appeals to the UN Development Programme and other international agencies for help in reversing the gradual recession and degradation of Lake Chad, once the world's sixth largest,"Your vision for the people of the Lake Chad basin must have at its core the security and well-being of the suffering masses as well as the unity of the member-nations," In Abuja at the opening of the 47th session of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2000-0003bA-00 (Wednesday 8 March)

Potential for Conflict in Lake Chad

Limiting Factors

Possible Solutions

Limiting factor: Main Source

The major source of water…Lake

Limiting Factor: Who fetches Water

Who does the water fetching?

Limiting Factor: Distance & labor Involved

Distance

Load/work 50 lbs of water

Limiting Factor: Nature of Water

Nature of water Safety

Limiting Factors

Global Climate Change

Limiting Factors

Droughts

Climatic Effect

Limiting Factors: Conflicts

Changing Shorelines

Flux in Boundary demarcation

Limiting Factor: Population

Population

Limiting Factors: Water rights

Water rights

Limiting Factor: Pollution

Pollution

Limiting Factor: Education

Education

Limiting Factors

None involvement of Stakeholders

Possible Solution(s)

Management strategy interpretation and dissemination of informationeliminate water wasting projects involve stakeholdersconjunctive surface & ground water use

Possible Solution(s)

Role of Lake Chad Basin Commissioncoordinate data collection/management

Members states of the commission, formed in 1964 to ensure optimal use of the lake basin's water resources, are Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

The commission is also supposed to coordinate the planning and implementation of all regional projects of the lake basin, review complaints and help settle disputes.

Summary

There are potential water related conflict areas around the world.

Would need Scientific input- Hydrology Conjunctive use of surface and ground water

Stakeholders Involvement

Education A two-way process

Conclusions

Cooperation is better than

Conflict