"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 Conflict Historical 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

Water What do you know about water? Surface water - Rivers & -Lakes Ground water

Introduction Surface waters There 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

Groundwater Precipitation…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 Conflicts Two 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 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 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 Turkey Euphrates

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 America Mexico and Guatemala Usumacinte, 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

Productivity Fish & 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 bA-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 information eliminate water wasting projects involve stakeholders conjunctive surface & ground water use

Possible Solution(s) Role of Lake Chad Basin Commission coordinate 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