Global warming will pose a serious threat to Africa. The land full of water potential will feel the heat and it is reported that more than 20 African countries are expected to experience water scarcity over the next 20 to 30 years.
The report was revealed at the Water Management Africa Conference held in Pretoria. Africa is facing an enormous water crisis afflicting 300 million Africans and claiming 6,000 lives a year. Water scarcity is also rapidly increasing the dangers of ‘social and political conflict’ among booming city populations.
Although Africa has immense water potential, yet it is so poorly managed that it will put the continent under water crisis. The situation is getting from bad to worse and is fuelling a catastrophic crisis.
Poor Africans living in slums on the continent were being forced to pay five times as much as people living in rich nations for a litre of clean water. Reports say that in less than two decades, more than 500 million people would be living in cramped conditions without clean water in the continent’s burgeoning cities.
In addition to the water scarcity problem, the continent also faces threats such as the depletion of water resources through pollution. Another problem relates to Inter Country River sharing disputes. More than two thirds of Africa’s 60 river basins are shared by more than one country – further fuelling potential clashes over how they should be used. Therefore, water allocation was also taken up at the conference. Yet, the problem relating to water allocation stands because of the wide economic power diversity of water users.
Water is everyone’s need. It is the most essential natural resource for any continent no matter how rich or poor it is. Water can not be replaced or regenerated, once lost it will be gone for ever. And there can be no life without water. Save water, save life.
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Via: waterconserve