Sub-Saharan Water Crisis

The West African nation of Niger has experienced one of the worst water crisis in the world that has left the population malnourished and in poverty. Location, climate and political instability can be attributed to the water scarcity, which not only leaves the nation lacking water, but in a state of underdevelopment. However, many non-government organisations have supported the nation and its people.

Water scarcity is an environmental problem that reaches around the globe. This lack of water is called the World Water Crisis. In the U.S, people are privileged enough to be able to use clean water for many things. However, the U.S is effected by water scarcity as well as countries who are underdeveloped and aren 't as privileged as we are. Only 2.5 percent of Earth 's water is fresh water, of which industrial uses account for 22 percent of available fresh water, domestic use requires only 8 percent, and the rest-over two-thirds of our demand-is used for agriculture. Water is said to be a right for all living things, however, many underdeveloped countries in the world, such as Ghana or Rajasthan, are victims of corporations who come

As an American citizen, I never question the water my state government provided me with. Also, I took for granted that I was receiving purified water, and believe that I did not have to inquire about the water safety level. However, after reading the Kristen Silven article, “Flint Water Crisis”, I felt infuriated learning that an American community had been poisoned, because of their government inadequacy to provide them with proper water. Also, I believe it was inhuman that the government neglected citizens and their duties for nearly 18 months. Furthermore, I felt empathic for the 666 homes that have shown high levels of lead poison in their drinking water. I could not imagine being a mother watching my child be poisoned and not have the

Water scarcity is a major issue the world now faces because of the prolonged global warming that the Earth has been enduring. Global warming has been causing a dramatic change in the Earth’s atmosphere, water supply, as well the ecosystem. It has caused glaciers, that hold a great deal of the world’s freshwater supply, as ice, to melt into the surrounding oceans because of the Sun’s heat warming the waters, and melting the glaciers. This has caused a problem for countries that rely on those sources. Not only the warming of the Earth, but also the multitude of pollutants that currently affect water supplies such as fecal matter, lead, and garbage, harm the available drinking water and render it useless. Due to the fact that certain countries are more polluted than others, just by default, their water supply has a greater chance of contamination. Therefore, the most ethical thing to do would be divide up remaining water equally amongst all countries. However, America and other first world countries will get privilege over the water because of their resources, wealth, and power.

Two out of every five people living in Sub-Saharan Africa lack safe water. A baby there is 500 times more likely to die from water-related illness than one from the United States. This is a serious ongoing issue that requires the rest of the world to take action. Water spreads diseases easily if the necessary precautions are not taken. Many developing African countries don’t have sewage treatment, or the people don’t have methods to filter and disinfect. Once a person is sick either there is no way to cure them, or medical care is too expensive, so they are left untreated with a high risk of death. Although many believe that the fight for sanitary water in Africa is insurmountable, people in these developing countries can overcome their challenge to access clean water and avoid water-borne diseases through proper sewage treatment facilities, universal water filtration and medical care.

During the 90’s, Africa is one of the worst affected from water shortages. The rainfall in Africa comes in bursts; this means the water may not be collected because of how dry the land is. Therefore, Africa has had droughts that have affected the rainfall recently. As an outcome, Africa’s water supply is near scarcity, considering the facts stated.

How do countries in the Middle East and North Africa manage their water resources? List an example of an area where water has become a source of conflict in the region.

According to the United Nations, it says that Sub-Saharan Africa loses up to forty billion hours per year collecting water; which is very valuable time because most of the day is consumed by basic needs and no time for anything else but if a solution was done, so people wouldn’t have to lose three hours of their day gathering water it would be better. So when the water solution is taken into consideration, children can go back to school instead of getting water borne diseases and parents could have more time to take care of their families. The World Health Organization has shown that, “for every one dollar invested in water and sanitation, there is an economic return of between three to four dollars”.

The purpose of this research paper is to discuss the water crisis in the region of Africa and how water can cause many other problems such as inadequate sanitation, poverty and diseases for the population. People living in third world countries are suffering from the water crisis that has become a major problem for the United Nations, World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, Millennium Development Goals and many of the other organizations. For some of these organizations have been successful in providing a bit more water through the years it’s still a working process. Water is essential for life, it’s not just for the body’s physical need; yet millions of people do not have access to clean water. The lack of accessible of fresh water contributes too many diseases such as HIV, AIDS, waterborne diseases, causing the death of millions of women and children annually in the region. This is making it harder for the communities to develop a safer home for their families and to improve the conditions of the country. This research paper will examine the problems, solutions and causes. How it all comes together, to contribute to this water crisis and to weather there is a solutions set by the United Nations, studies that have been conducted and other organizations, which can maybe work for the years to come. In addition, the same water problems are going to be discussed with regard to Africa for statics, examples and quotes done by the organizations in the past and

One of the major necessities for humans to live is water. Currently, seven hundred and eighty-three million people do not have access to clean water and as many as eight million people die each year due to this. One in nine people currently living on Earth are not able to adequately hydrate their bodies due to lack of necessary resources. This is unacceptable. It is also unacceptable to ignore the problem and blind yourself with privilege. While the majority of issues with lack of clean drinking water are in Sub-Saharan Africa, we do not have to search too far to see the damages caused because this is happening within our own borders. Flint, Michigan has been battling lead contamination in their water since 2014. America, one of the most developed

Another thing scarcity plays a big role in is water. For example, Sudan has been in conflict with other countries and has had environmental effects. “There is a lack of clean water in many rural villages in Africa, waterborne and water-based diseases are a primary cause of preventable illness and premature deaths, with children being particularly vulnerable”, ("Water."). This has forced people to move out of the country. Water is very short during the dry season. Groundwater is an important source of water supply for people and livestock, especially during the dry season. A lot of the water is not safe to drink because of all the chemicals in it.

Water is the main source of life on the Earth. It is vital for normal existence and functioning of organisms. Earth is sometimes called “water planet.” But, in fact, the number of freshwater is limited. “Only about 2 percent of the planet's water is fresh.” (How much water is there on Earth?) This water is not enough even to meet daily needs of mankind. According to World Health Organization, “a lack of water to meet daily needs is a reality today for one in three people around the world.” (2009) In the Middle East the situation is especially hard. This region is thought to be one of the droughtiest places in the world, most of it’s territory is deserted. Freshwater accounts to 1 percent of the world’s supplies, while the population comes

The average American uses about 176 gallons of water in one single day, while in Africa, 660 million people see just one sip as a luxury, states Kristen Lewis in the article entitled “THIRST” for the 2016 Scholastic Scope. Without water, people cannot carry out daily activities and struggle to survive. The water crisis in Africa is an expanding problem in our world that continues to affect millions of people each day; fortunately, this crisis has caught the attention of The Water Project, a nonprofit organization in the United States that raises money to solve water crises around the world. The Africa water crisis has come about due to several factors that create negative outcomes for the citizens of Africa, but The Water Project is doing all they can to resolve these issues.

Life springs up around water sources. It is no coincidence that some of the greatest civilizations have been build need fertile bodies of water. Known life relies on water to sustain that life. So it is no surprise when a debate arose in 2013 around comments made by Nestlé Chairman Peter Brabeck regarding privatization of water and the fundamental human right to survive from dehydration and illness from non-portal water consumption. Although the context of Brabeck’s comment was taken out of context, issues surrounding the access companies like Nestlé have been given to bottle their water when people do not have access to clean water and droughts are threatening crop production. Adding a price tag is not the answer. The market, both these companies and their consumers have a major role to play in the management of water; a role that requires a change in mindset of privilege many citizen of the United States, and other countries that do not see the direct effects that serious clean water issue have on people that do not have it.

As the worlds population grows, it is forced by circumstances that it has created to face the limitations of the worlds resources. Most people in the US have always been fortunate enough to have enough of whatever they wanted. When something they like breaks or wears out, they throw it away or buy a new one, and they often don’t even make an attempt to repair an item. They neglect basic maintenance until they damage their belongings beyond repair, and expect that they’ll always have enough. But some things are beyond their control, beyond there power or financial ability to replace or repair. The world’s drinking water supply is one of these without concern, without attention, without preventative maintenance and reclamation and