Water scarcity in Africa is getting worse. Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are affected by severe drought. Approximately 230 million Africans will be facing water scarcity by the end of 2025. Read this article to know more about water scarcity in Africa.
Water scarcity means a lack of access to water. Africa is
dealing with economic and physical water scarcity. Economic water scarcity
refers to a lack of water infrastructure and poor management of water resources.
Physical water scarcity is a situation when there is not enough water to meet
all demands.
Drought in
Africa
Africa has also been dealing with some of the most severe
droughts in recent years. Rivers are also running dry due to excessive heat.
Africa is likely to face a scarcity of water and depleted freshwater resources
in the coming years.
Almost every African is impacted by water scarcity. In rural
areas, people have no immediate access to water. They have to travel long
distances to get water.
In January, Egypt reached water poverty with less than 500
cubic meters of water per capita per year. The government said that the
declining per-capita water availability increased Egypt’s food security risk.
Population
growth and climate change
Djibouti faces extreme water scarcity exacerbated by
population growth and climate change. In many other African countries, water
scarcity is caused by rapid population growth and climate change. Climate
change may also lead to death and illness from increasingly frequent extreme
weather events.
Health
risks due to water scarcity
According to the World Bank, poor water quality is the root
cause of up to 80 per cent of diseases in Africa. People are suffering due to
disease burdens related to water, sanitation, and hygiene. In rural areas, lack
of basic access to water services led to deaths.
Young activists like Vanessa Nakate, Leah Namugerwa, and
Yola Gogwana are bringing awareness to Africa’s climate-driven water crisis.
In Nigeria, the World Bank’s Sustainable Urban and Rural
Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene program are supporting the country by
expanding access to water.
In January, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) appealed for almost 130 million US dollars to avoid a
forthcoming humanitarian catastrophe in the Horn of Africa.
What do you think about water scarcity in Africa? How can we
improve the situation? Share your answer in the comment section below.
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