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Water Crisis in the Sahel Region of Nigeria: The Intersection of Insecurities and COVID-19


 

Water is an essential component for life.

Unfortunately, for the over 25 million people living in the Sahel region of Nigeria, access to clean water has become a critical issue. This region has been beset by persistent insecurity, with Boko Haram and COVID-19 exacerbating an already dire situation. Let’s take a look at how these issues have combined to create a crisis that threatens the very survival of those who live in this area.


Insecurity—in particular that caused by Boko Haram—has greatly exacerbated water crises in the Sahel region of Nigeria. According to a report by Human Rights Watch, since 2009 when Boko Haram began its violent campaign, tens of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and are now living in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). These camps are often overcrowded and lack basic resources such as clean water and sanitation facilities. As a result, IDPs suffer from waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery due to contaminated water sources.


Insecurity has also hindered access to existing clean water sources as well as prevented aid workers from accessing certain areas due to safety concerns. This further exacerbates the existing water crisis in this region as civilians cannot access clean drinking water or sanitation facilities without risk to their lives from Boko Haram attacks.

COVID-19 has only worsened an already dire situation in the Sahel region of Nigeria due to its effect on economies across the world including Nigeria’s own economy. As people lose jobs and businesses close down due to government safety measures, there is less money available for humanitarian aid which means fewer resources are directed towards providing clean water sources for those living in IDP camps or other affected areas.


Accessing safe drinking water is a human right that should be made available without threat or fear from violence or disease—but this is not currently possible for many individuals living in precarious situations such as IDP camps across Africa particularly those that face persistent insecurity such as those found in Sahel region of Nigeria where Boko Haram activity continues unabated even during global pandemics like COVID-19.


Addressing this issue requires both short term solutions such as increased support through donations to organizations working on the ground to improve outcomes of affected communities along with long term efforts such as improved security conditions so that civilians can access clean drinking water safely without fear of attack or disease transmission while still being able to receive essential goods and services they need during times of crisis like these ones we are facing now globally because of COVID-19.


It is up us all – governments and citizens alike –to ensure better quality of life for everyone around us especially those who most vulnerable like those affected by conflict situations negatively compounded by pandemics like these ones we are currently facing today globally with Covid 19 . Together we can make sure no one goes thirsty again!

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