In most rural parts of Sub-Saharan Africa like Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Uganda, women walk for miles a day especially in dry seasons collecting water form streams. The time stent on these trips yields about $6 of benefits in saved time, increased productivity and reduced health costs.

The economic benefits of water go beyond the health impact. Water to say the least is the bedrock of sustainable development. Countries that lack the capacity to store water are faced with stagnant economic growth, food scarcity and sometimes famine.

The United Nations says guaranteeing proper supply of water is vital to eradicating poverty. It believes the problem is worst in Africa, which also needs huge quantities of water for agriculture. People need water to grow food as well as for their own use. Agriculture accounts for about 35% of Africa's gross national product, 40% of its exports, and 70% of its employment. So positive intervention can have a greater overall impact upon economic development and public health.

Provision of clean drinking water can also reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of some of the most serious water-related diseases by up to 80%.

 Dangers

For centuries war and conflict have been tied to the protection of water resources. With the risk of water shortages around the world becoming more and more of an issue, water has become the fuel of certain conflicts in many regions around the world. “Water Wars” are becoming inevitable in the world's future as the misuse of water resources continues among countries that share the same water source.

Conflicts range from the privatization of water resources to the many people displaced by dams along the rivers and the unequal distribution of water supplies among neighboring countries. With the growing demand for water resources, conflicts seem almost inevitable, especially with many African governments’ history of poor management of resources and inadequate conflict resolution mechanism.

The Nile River’s tributaries, lakes and rivers collect and disperse water in nine African countries before it reaches the Mediterranean Sea. The Egyptians have used military force to ensure their control over the head waters of the Nile, because they don’t have any other source. Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda have constructed various river projects to increase their annual water withdrawals, affecting Egyptians’ control over the Nile. However, in some cases national governments have agreed to share water that flows between their countries. Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda signed a pact to share waters of the Nile River. Such solution can potentially prevent water shortage and head off conflict as long as there is not enough for all.

In the Eastern African countries of Kenya and Ethiopia, water scarcity in fueling conflict and stifling development. Water scarcity in Africa is also rapidly increasing the dangers of "social and political conflict" among booming city populations.

 Action  

The urgent need to move from analysis to action has been recognized by regional corporation, international and Non Governmental Organizations. Examples include the institutionalization of the African Ministers Council on Water in 2002, the 2002 adaptation of the Accra Declaration on Water and Sustainable Development, the United Nations Africa Group, the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) and so on.

The USAID West Africa Water Initiative works with a number of partners to improve infrastructural development. This is helping provide potable water and sanitation to rural villages in Ghana, Mali and Niger. The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) which is a commitment by African leaders to the people of Africa is designed to ensure action is taken towards addressing the African water crisis.

The primary responsibility of providing access to safe drinking water still lies with the local and national governments in individual countries. African ministers recently appealed for some US $16 billion a year from major financial institutions such as the World Bank to help address the continent's mammoth water woes. Kingsley Amoako, head of the UN's Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) however estimates that US $20 billion a year was needed to help get water to 300 million Africans. But as yet just US $4 billion is spent per year on water supply and sanitation. As a result, millions live in appalling conditions and needlessly die. He also challenged African governments to "put their money where their mouth is" and commit five percent of their national budgets to funding water projects.

The lesson from the clashes between monkeys and humans over water in northern Kenya is that: just as animals cannot survive when disconnected with their habitats, neither can human live disconnected from the water cycle that has evolved to maintain it. Africa is a thirsty continent, water-starved and left dry. The challenge to international organizations, developed countries and individual African countries is to launch a “Blue Revolution” that will help manage water resources in Africa on a more sustainable basis for all users.

Robot  # 1 | 15.04.2009 13:22

In most rural parts of Sub-Saharan Africa like Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Uganda, women walk for miles a day especially in dry seasons collecting water form streams. The time stent on these trips yields about $6 of benefits in saved time, increased productivity and reduced health costs. The economic benefits of water go beyond the health impact. Water to say the least is the bedrock of sustainable development. Countries that lack the capacity to store water are faced with stagnant economic growth, food scarcity and sometimes famine. The United Nations says guaranteeing proper supply of water is vital to eradicating poverty. It believes the problem is worst in Africa, which also needs huge quantities of water for agriculture. People need water to grow food as well as for their own use. Agriculture accounts for about 35% of Africa's gross national product, 40% of its exports, and 70% of its employment. So positive intervention can have a greater overall ...Read the full article.