Children queue to collect water from a well near a makeshift camp for internally displaced Yemenis in Abs, northern Hajjah governorate.
AFP via Getty Images
A new study finds that the number of water-related violent incidents around the world has increased dramatically in recent years.
According to the Pacific Institute's annual Water Conflict Chronology report, there were 347 water-related armed conflicts in 2023, up from 231 in 2022.
These include attacks on water systems, conflicts over access to water, and the use of water as a weapon of war.
Peter Gleick, a senior fellow and co-founder of the think tank, said the rise in similar incidents around the world in the past year was “alarming.”
“This is a very significant increase and shows the importance of water and the failure of institutions to manage it properly,” he said in an interview.
The study found that conflicts over access to water occurred in every major region around the world last year.
Morgan Simabuk, a senior research fellow at the institute, said there had been a “significant number” of such incidents in Ukraine because of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Shimabukuro added that there were 25 water-related accidents in India last year, which is expected to fall to 10 in 2022.
She said Latin America has also seen a significant increase in the number of incidents related to conflicts over water management and access.
And in South Africa, the number of cases increased from five in 2022 to 16 in 2023.
“Water is a vital resource for humanity, for our well-being, our economy and for cultural purposes,” Shimabukuro said.
“The report reflects growing pressures on access to water from all sides, including climate change, armed conflict and increasing demand.”
On the impacts of climate change, Gleick said the report highlighted examples of extreme droughts sparking violent incidents in countries such as India.
“Climate change is definitely having an impact, but we don't yet know the full extent of that impact,” he said.
In March, UNESCO released another report on behalf of the UN Water Agency, warning that tensions over water are exacerbating conflicts around the world.
According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2024, 2.2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water and 3.5 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation.
The UN called on countries to strengthen international cooperation and cross-border agreements to maintain peace.
The Pacific Institute report also highlights how agreements on water sharing and joint management can help resolve cross-border conflicts, such as those along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
International laws, if implemented, would help protect infrastructure such as dams, pipelines and water treatment plants.
Looking forward, Dr Gleick said it was important to encourage further discussion on possible solutions, increase infrastructure investment and strengthen international agreements.
“Depending on the type of conflict, the solutions will be different,” he told me.
“There are hundreds of common cross-border watersheds, so diplomatic solutions and international agreements are important.
“For example, the United States has agreements with Mexico on the Colorado and Rio Grande rivers, which helps reduce conflicts over water resources. But for many rivers, there are no agreements.”
“There are ways to reduce conflict over water, and the international community needs to pursue them more aggressively,” he added.
