KARACHI: On World Water Day today, we are faced with imminent threats of water wars as many continents from Africa to Europe, Asia to the Middle East face a developing water crisis in the age of war. Water Wars were predicted time and again, with battle lines drawn by nations over water resources, making water the new weapon of war.
The world is entering a more decisive phase of water wars. From a historical perspective, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey occupy a conflict zone over shared rivers- the Tigris and Euphrates. In Africa, the same situation persisted in the construction of the Renaissance Dam over the Blue Nile. In Yemen’s war, over 4 million residents have faced devastating consequences, due to water scarcity after was ravaged the nation. According to reports, over 5000 deaths take place each year due to local land and water disputes, leading to civilian casualties and mass migrations.
In the Middle East, the largest dam in Iraq _ the Mosul Dam that controls major water arteries is now the center of the battle between Daesh and Kurdish Iraqi forces, whereby water cut-offs and dam takeovers are used as tools to control and manipulate governments. A devastating battle for resources in the Israel-Palestine war is currently underway where deadly attacks on water resources have left deep scars on the land and its people where women and children have been ruthlessly slaughtered and further deprived of drinking water leading to mass casualties, with no hope in sight.
Analysts have indicated that the civil war in Syria was a direct result of the intense drought of 2007 with over 0.5 million people massacred and 20 million people displaced if triggered by a major water war. During the Gulf War of 1991, American forces destroyed water resources and infrastructure, leading to the rise of Daesh and a huge water crisis, as a by-product of the American Invasion.
In South Asia alone, a full-blown war over water would be catastrophic for hundreds of millions of people depending on the Indus Water Treaty hanging by a thread. The construction of dams on both sides of the border between India and Pakistan could dry out fresh water banks, with frequent threats by India to cut off the water supply to Pakistan.
Researchers in 2019 predicted that 200-300 million in Pakistan were feared to be running out of access to safe drinking water. The race to acquire equitable distribution of water resources is a bigger challenge today in major cities, while the situation gets worse in rural communities as water shortage increases due to higher agricultural requirements, without a proper water conservation plan. To date, there has not been a comprehensive water policy approved by the government.
Water is a public health issue and a household concern today, as the price of water as a commodity has risen sharply in the last 5 years. The nation is enslaved by excessive water theft illegal water distribution and profiteering. Unfortunately, there is always someone who benefits from the water crisis and it is not the poor people of this country. In the major city of Karachi for example, millions of gallons of substandard water are sold at abnormal prices to the common man.
Let us get a historic perspective on ‘water’. In the 6th largest city in the world, there is a severe water crisis. A few years back, the average requirement of water in major cities like Karachi was somewhere around 835 MGD (million gallons per day) with only 10% of the city water supply coming through tankers. With 40% of the water supply for such cities affected due to organized crime, through home suction devices and illegal hydrants, this indicates illegal pricing and sale of water as a commercial commodity with various mafias involved. There are harsh implications. Supply and distribution of unclean at unaffordable prices to the public may result that may lead to civil war and water wars.
In 1991, as per the water accord, it was documented that downstream water supply to Sindh would be mandatory and a survey would also be conducted to oversee the exact amount of water supply required for the benefit of the people of the province, based on high malnutrition and water scarcity in the province. Moreover, the flash floods of 2022 left people devastated and destroyed infrastructure in the aftermath.
The Indus Delta Basin – the 6th Largest delta in the world has been damaged due to depleting water resources. More than 10 MAF (million-acre-feet) of water was the estimated minimum requirement a few years back. Moreover, a lack of available data or a comprehensive water policy needs to be devised as a policy manual to address this problem. An estimated 4.5 -5 million acres of fertile land have been inundated by rising sea levels as a result of climate change and global warming, in different coastal areas of the province of Sindh.
Lack of infrastructure is a challenge. The water pipelines laid out for the transportation of clean water need to be checked, as most of them are rusted or broken and sewage has started to penetrate these water lines, increasing the risk of disease and hazardous chemicals in the drinking water supply. Over 20% of the water that reaches city populations is being used to wash cars, being unsuitable for human drinking consumption.
For the majority of residents living in apartment buildings today, the price of water has risen from Rs 4000 per tanker in 2019 to almost Rs 15,000 per tanker today. With inflation over 25% in Pakistan, the citizens of the nation may be unable to afford water at their current wage rate.
Some of the immediate required measures include 1) Review the Water Accord of 1991 – Through possible construction of new dams. For example, the Tarbela Dam was commissioned forty years back, where Sindh received an additional 7.0 MAF of water that led to the cultivation of over 27 lakh acres of land. 2) Infrastructural investments – by repairing existing water supply avenues and building water treatment plants. 3) Water Conservation– Through social media awareness campaigns launched in populated areas of major cities to minimize water wastage. 4) Harvesting rainwater– At individual and community levels to sustain available water. 5) Desalination – By exploring extra sources of freshwater in coastal areas and building desalination plants 6) Good governance– By implementing transparent laws that may govern water management practices. 7) Partnerships-Private partnerships with government to ensure water service delivery to end consumers.
Quoting a famous book, “ The Price of Thirst “-water Scarcity and the coming chaos, the author documented three big challenges that every government has to resolve- the rise of extremism, privatization of water resources and water scarcity must be addressed to eradicate potential water wars.
A UN report has confirmed that by 2025, the world will face a global water shortage of 40%, where global water demand will increase by 55% by 2050. Safe drinking water is shrinking globally, with a multiplied damage due to rising climate change as over 90% of the world’s countries share river basins and lakes. Today, 100 liters of water per person per day is barely enough.
Questions remain. Are banks financing water projects for public utilization? Is the government adopting water policies and implementing water laws? Is there a country water policy for Pakistan and other poor nations? In the 1950s, 2.5 billion people. By 2050, 40% of global youth will migrate to Asia, another 50% may decide to migrate to Africa. Global GDP will triple, natural resource consumption will double and we will see increased climate risk. Without water, there will be no future growth for many emerging nations, including Pakistan.
Pakistan cannot succeed as an agricultural economy till it puts “ water policy first “ and avoids a water emergency. To grow food, we need water or we may never export anything overseas. Sooner than later, the lack of adequate water reservoirs in the country will lead to water wars. In the end, we need to battle this challenge, for the great good of the public.
The right to clean and safe drinking water is the primary challenge to manage the healthcare emergency in the country as well as to save our populations from starvation. The matter should be immediately tabled for action by the new government to ensure social justice for the masses before the nation is crippled by perpetual water wars.
About the Author: Zeeshan Shah is a healthcare specialist, thought leader, and environmental journalist and tweets @zeeshan82445998
