By Lauren Hill - Argoed B

What are “Water Wars”? Water wars are when people fight over a limited amount of water. For example, the Nile runs through three countries – Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. There, competition could be great as they each compete over a limited amount of water. “Water wars” are more likely in areas where rivers and lakes are shared by more than one country.

What is happening? The risk of wars being fought over water is quickly rising as the amount of water in the world is limited. Water pollution needs to be stopped and countries need to develop better water management.

Why is it happening? Water is a vital resource for life on Earth and it has been predicted the main cause of wars in the 21 st century. Because the worlds population is growing at a very fast rate, there is an extreme pressure on water supplies in many countries to provide enough water for drinking and growing food. In India, the Ganges provides water for millions of people, but the supply is getting lower due to global warming, tree cutting, and pollution is becoming more common, causing conflict with neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal.

Turkey and Syria Turkey and Syria also argue over water supplies and Turkey is now building more reservoirs to conserve water.

Facts about water 97% of the worlds water is seawater. 2% of the rest is locked in icecaps and the other 1% is underground. 5% of the world’s population survives on 1% of its water in the Middle East and this contributed to the 1967 Arab- Israeli war.

China and India fight over the water in the Brahmaputra river because it runs through both countries. India also argues with Bangladesh over glaciers melting in the Himalayas. Ethiopia and Egypt threaten conflicts over the world’s biggest river, the Nile. Angola and Namibia fight over water and Namibia have plans to build a 250 mile pipeline to supply the capital.

Countries that fight over water are; Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Syria, China, Angola, Namibia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Bangladesh and India.

Final Word There have been many, many fights over water, and the United Nations secretary says that the next war will most likely be over WATER!!!!!