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(Food Security and Nutriton Analysis Unit /January 28, 2011). 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)