Scarcity and inequality in the availability of water can seriously threaten well-being and peace in the world, and that is why water management must be sustainable and solidary, and take into account new realities, including climate and geopolitical changes, according to the UN report on March 22 , on World Water Day.
The report of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) states that equal, safe and accessible access to water and sanitation services, and the numerous benefits that derive from them, is a key factor for building prosperous and peaceful societies.
"Recent events, from global epidemics to armed conflicts, have clearly shown that the socio-political conditions under which water supply and management operate can change very quickly," UNESCO said in the report "Water for Prosperity and Peace".
It is emphasized that in 2022, 2,2 billion people did not have access to safe drinking water, and that from 2002 to 2021, 1,4 billion people in the world were affected by droughts. Also, water scarcity is an important cause of increasing global migration.
Major global events and disruptions are said to increase the risk of inequality in water availability, such as climate change, geopolitical unrest, pandemics, mass migration, hyperinflation and other crises.
However, these events also create space for new policies, which will encourage resilience and adaptation. Inequality in access to water supplies threatens peace and social stability, but water can also contribute to the creation of peace by motivating cooperation and diplomacy.
As a rule, water is not a reason for war, but it is very often a tool, target or victim of wars, as for example in the case of attacks on infrastructure, refining plants or dams. Disputes over water arise when needs exceed existing capacities, when access to water is hindered by pollution, when infrastructure is disrupted, or water management institutions are not up to the task, the report says.
In countries with lower incomes, where agriculture is the main source of income, about 80 percent of jobs depend on water. Also, in the whole world, 72 percent of the fresh water that is pumped is used in agriculture.
Floods in the world from 2002 to 2021 caused damage of about 832 billion dollars.
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