Fresh water sources are drying up around the world, making access more pressing than ever
Water: perhaps the single greatest resource we take for granted every day. So how could control over a resource that seems to be everywhere suddenly become the cause of future wars?
For the better part of the twentieth century, oil was the most coveted resource on Earth. From the Middle East to Africa, Asia to Latin America and elsewhere, many wars were rooted in the battle for control of oil.
However, as that century wore on, fresh water became increasingly scarce and the importance of securing it rose to an international issue. In recent years, water has become one of the most sought-after global commodities.
Fresh water isn't just needed for drinking; it's necessary for agriculture, sanitation and irrigation as well as for hydroelectricity production. Unfortunately, the world's fresh water is drying up due to a number of causes, including overuse, poor management and, especially, global warming.
Such a growing need for fresh water has made international disagreements over the resource more common. These conflicts often occur in regions where bodies of water touch multiple countries, which places each of them in direct competition for control of the same source. The Nile River, for example, touches 10 countries in East Africa, most of which rely on it heavily to survive. But Egypt's large dams have helped the country control the 6695 kilometre river for years, angering other countries that rely on it such as Kenya and Ethiopia.
Water conflicts are deeply seeded in international politics in many parts of the world, including the Middle East. Turkey, Syria and Iraq have all previously had disagreements over securing water flowing from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Water also continues to be one of the most contentious yet lesser known disputes between Israelis and Palestinians.
In South Asia, India and Bangladesh have traditionally argued over India's control of the Ganges River. And as discussed in November's issue of Voices International, we saw how India's internal water crisis has started minor conflicts between its own citizens.
If the twentieth century was known for its oil wars, it seems very likely that the twenty-first will be scarred by water wars.
By 2025, the world's population is expected to reach eight billion, with the overwhelming majority of that growth taking place in developing countries where fresh water is more difficult to come by. Will these countries be able to secure the water they need?
Free The Children is currently working around the world to help many of them do just that. Water projects are one of the pillars of the Adopt a Village, providing easy access to clean water and its benefits. While projects are based on long-term sustainability, conflicts and global warming are looming threats to the fresh water supplies of people everywhere.
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