Water problem in Somalai
Water is the source
of life as mentioned in the holy Quran. People, animals and plants cannot stay
alive without water for more than a few days.
Therefore, the world’s attention is increasingly focused on water
problems. One of the most common
problems related to the water is water shortage. It is a global problem that covers all
situations where people do not find water to satisfy their needs. In 80
countries health and economies are threatened by the scarcity of water. Water is as important as energy so conflicts
among countries for water resources are not uncommon.
Africa is the second
driest continent in the world after Australia although there are large bodies
of water such as the Nile and Lake Victoria. There are VARIOUS causes including
an increasing population. The dramatic increase has led to more demands on the
earth and has resulted in more desertification.
This has more environmental consequences and is increased by
deforestation. Soil erosion and environmental degradation increases when trees
are cut down as they control surface runoff. In Somalia this is a major problem
and cutting trees has become common for export from Mogadishu, Kismayo and
Bosaso (BBC, 2000 and local newspapers). Another cause of water shortage is the
lack of investment in water infrastructure and the poor water quality. Climatic
change and variability contributes to the problem of water shortage. If there
is not more assistance to help keep water clean and to avoid associated
problems, there will be certainly a new crisis. Famines will occur due to
drought conditions and animal and people die from food shortages. Diseases
related to contaminated water also cause fatalities.
In Somalia, water has become a resource worth fighting and
dying for. A well is considered as precious as a bank. It is controlled by
guards and protected with weapons. The lack of water has affected millions of
people across Africa and killed large numbers of livestock, such as cows, goats
and even camels. The effects of the drought are most obvious in Somalia. The
reason for that is Somalia has almost no effective government and no central
planning, since the government of Mohamed Siad Barre collapsed in 1991. Since
then, a mixture of warlords and their armies have taken control of crops,
markets and access to water. The U.N. World Food Program hires heavily armed
men to help protect villagers as they pick up their supplies of water. Still,
warlords sometimes force women to give up their water or food as they walk back
to their villages.
Somalia is facing a severe water shortage following failure
of the short rains. The failure of short rain season decreased the water
sources for both human and livestock. This leads to crop failure, which made
the prices of water and local cereals increase. Although poor rains are a
normal part of the climatic seasonal pattern in Somalia, when the people are
already dealing with other problems such as conflict, displacement, limited
access to basic services and limited opportunities for income, even one poor
rainy season is enough to put them into crisis. Also there is an increased
malnutrition due to lack of clean water and also the prevalence of diseases
such as diarrhea. Staples such as milk are limited when herds migrate to search
for water.
Somalia has to stop land war and have to agree in everything
to help their country from all problems especially water, because it’s the most
affecting on them. Moreover, There are many ways to solve the problem such as
inviting all people concerned from different ethnics to sit together and try to
identify what are there crucial wants and needs once there wants and needs are
identified then it will be easy to solve their problems. Another way is for the
Somali people to put their affiliation to the country over tribalism and once
that is achieved then the country can move towards the right direction.
According to a poll conducted it showed that most of the Somali people think
when choosing a leadership it should be based on education rather than
tribalism.
Turkey is trying to solve the water problem in
Somalia, by supplying them with clear and healthy water, Somali capital under a
project of the Turkish Cooperation. ”A Turkish technical delegation will carry
out water exploration with geophysical devices. We are planning to dig water
well near the tent-city erected by Turkish relief agency, the Red Crescent. We
will begin drilling as soon as our equipment arrives," he said. Karakus
added, "Average life expectancy is around 45 in Somalia because of severe
shortage of food and water. If we can dig water wells, life expectancy can
increase." (A.A, Kemal Karakus, Sep26, 2011)
