UN report warns that the global water crisis is exacerbating conflicts

The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024 highlights the critical role of access to clean water in promoting peace and stability. The report emphasizes that increasing global water scarcity is exacerbating conflicts and contributing to instability worldwide.

Key findings from the report include:

1. Access to Clean Water: The report states that 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water, and 3.5 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation. Girls and women are particularly affected, especially in rural areas where they often bear the primary responsibility for collecting water.
2. Impact on Education: Spending several hours a day fetching water contributes to girls dropping out of school, highlighting the broader implications of water scarcity on education and gender equality.
3. Geopolitical Tensions: Water shortages not only fuel geopolitical tensions but also threaten fundamental rights. The report warns that severe restrictions on access to clean water, such as those seen in conflicts like Israel’s war on Gaza, exacerbate humanitarian crises and disrupt medical treatment and hygiene.
4. Migration and Displacement: Water insecurity drives migration, with at least 10 percent of global migration linked to water stress. Displaced people often strain resources in areas where they settle, leading to increased gender-based violence and other social challenges.
5. Climate Change Impact: Global warming is projected to worsen water scarcity by increasing the frequency and severity of droughts and floods. Poorer countries, which are less equipped to adapt to these changes, bear the brunt of the consequences.
6. Financial Costs: Providing safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in low- to middle-income countries would require an estimated $114 billion annually.

In response to these challenges, the report emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in water management. While more than 60 percent of freshwater resources are shared by two or more countries, only a fraction of these have signed cooperation agreements covering all shared water resources. Increased collaboration is essential to address water scarcity and promote sustainable development globally.

Overall, the report underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to ensure access to clean water for all, as it is not only a matter of human rights but also critical for achieving peace, stability, and prosperity worldwide.