"Water: Source for conflict or cooperation? An African Perspective."

Solomon A. Isiorho (PhD), Dept of Geosciences, IPFW

Talk Outline

Introduction

Water Conflicts: Fact or Myth?

Historical Perspective

Water Conflicts by Regions

Lake Chad Basin

Introduction

Water

Nearly one third of the world population (~4 billion people) will experience severe water shortage within the next 20 years

Water availability per person per year

Introduction

Water

Introduction

Water

Introduction

Drainage Basins (Watershed)

Introduction

Surface watersThere are over 214 major rivers shared by

two or more countries e.g. Amazon, Euphrates, Danube, Jordan, Niger

About 97 % of surface water in Egypt is from outside the nation

Introduction

Groundwater

Water Related Conflicts

Are there really water related conflicts?

Potential Reasons for Conflict

Unequal distribution of water

Inefficient water use

Increase in Population

Pollution

Rising Cost of water Inflexibility, inefficient,and inequitable agreements

for managing waters

Control (Politics) Much of world’s most accessible freshwater

supplies are located in basins and aquifers that cross international borders

Resolving ConflictsTwo Traditional Doctrines

Doctrine of unlimited territorial sovereignty states that a country has exclusive rights to the waters within its territory.. First used by US (India is doing the same)

Unlimited Territorial integrity states that one country cannot alter the quantity and quality of water available to another (Egypt)

Equitable and reasonable use

Water Related Conflicts Historical Perspective

. 1503 Florence and Pisa warring states military tool (MT)1642 China Ming Dynasty (MT)1863 United States Civil War US Grant (MT)1898 Egypt; France and Britain MT and Political

Water Related Conflicts Historical Perspective Contd.

1944-1945 Multiple parties Military targets involving German, Italy, Britain, United States … Isoletta Dam (Liri R.) British Royal Air Force bombed dams on Mohne, Sorpe, Eder Rivers .. Killing 1,200 & destroying dams downstream

Flooding of area occupied by US troop, Ay river valley flooded, and also flooding of II River valley creating a lake 16 km long, 3-6 Km wide and 1-2 meters deep

Water Related Conflicts in the 1990s

1991 Iraq Kuwait1995 Ecuador Peru military over head waters of Cenepa

River1997 Singapore, Malaysia Political1999 Lusaka Zambia terrorism on water pipe line to city

of Lusaka (3 m people)1999 Kosovo Terrorism contamination of water

supplies/wells1999-2000 Namibia, Botswana, Zambia ..

Zambezi/Chobe rivers border dispute and access to water

Water Conflicts by Regions

Middle EastArab-Israel-1948 Arabs Israelis … Arab forces cut off

West Jerusalem water supply

Water Conflicts by Regions

Middle East

Arab-Israel-

Rivers

Water Conflicts by Regions

Middle East

Arab-Israel-

Groundwater

Water Conflicts by Regions

Water Conflicts by Regions

Water Conflicts by Regions

Middle East

Turkey 1990 Iraq, Syria, Turkey development dispute flow from

Euphrates interrupted for a month .. Ataturk Dam as part of the grand Anatolia Project

Water Conflicts by Regions

Middle East

TurkeyEuphrates

Water Conflicts by Regions

Asia

Ganges – originates in China passing through Nepal

Especially between Bangladesh and Indian

India versus Pakistan over the Indus River

Water Conflicts by Regions

Central AmericaMexico and GuatemalaUsumacinte, Suchiate and Grijala Rivers

originate in Guatemala and enter into Mexico…. Agreement based on principle of equitable, rational and optimum utilization

Water Conflicts by Regions

North America

Rio Grande, Colorado and Tijuan rivers between US and Mexico

Water Conflicts by Regions

Africa

West Africa- Lake Chad

Potential for Conflict in Lake Chad

Limiting Factors

Importance of Lake Chad

Possible Solutions

Lake Chad Basin

Limiting Factors

Global Climate Change

Climatic Effect

Limiting FactorsGlobal Climate Change

Droughts

Limiting Factor: Drought

Limiting Factors

Population

Limiting Factors

Conflicts

Limiting Factors: Conflicts

Changing Shorelines

Flux in Boundary demarcation

Limiting Factors: Conflicts

Water rights

Limiting Factors

None involvement of Stakeholders

Limiting FactorsPollution

Limiting Factors

Education

Importance of Lake Chad

Political Boundary

Provides Protein (Fish)

Importance of Lake Chad

Provides jobs

Provides water

Importance of Lake Chad

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo appeals to the UN Development Programme and other international agencies for help in reversing the gradual recession and degradation of Lake Chad, once the world's sixth largest,"Your vision for the people of the Lake Chad basin must have at its core the security and well-being of the suffering masses as well as the unity of the member-nations," In Abuja at the opening of the 47th session of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2000-0003bA-00 (Wednesday 8 March)

Possible Solution(s)

Management strategy interpretation and dissemination of

informationeliminate water wasting projects involve stakeholdersconjunctive surface & ground water use

Possible Solution(s)

Role of Lake Chad Basin Commissioncoordinate data collection/management

Members states of the commission, formed in 1964 to ensure optimal use of the lake basin's water resources, are Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

The commission is also supposed to coordinate the planning and implementation of all regional projects of the lake basin, review complaints and help settle disputes.

Summary

There are potential water related conflict areas around the world.

Would need Scientific input- Hydrology Conjunctive use of surface and ground water

Stakeholders Involvement

Education A two-way process

Conclusions

Cooperation is better than

Conflict

Water Security Meeting

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Location: Hartford, CT USA Date: December 3-4, 2001