ALICANTE, Spain — In the Sahel, farmers fight over water resources; in Iraq, water quality has brought social unrest and violent protests; and in Yemen, urban water systems are frequently attacked.
With water-related conflicts on the rise, some say water NGOs need to get better at preventing and resolving tensions before they boil over.
Research shows that 17 countries currently face extremely high water stress. Conflict can occur when two or more parties hold competing claims over a water resource, its allocation, or use. Unlike something like fuel, there is no alternative to water, and with demand increasing due to population growth, more conflicts can be expected, said Aseel Naamani, programs manager in Lebanon for peacebuilding organization International Alert.