Frances Lewis

Committee: United Nations Development Program

Topic: African Water Scarcity
Country: Somalia

Water Scarcity is a major problem affecting tons of people all over the world. Lack of safe
drinking water is one of the world's largest problems touching over 1.1 billion people.
(SOMALIA DROUGHT) Water usage has recently been growing at more than twice the rate
of the population in the last century. Even though water covers 70% of our planet, a rising
number of areas are suffering from water scarcity due to the fact that only 3% of the planet’s
water is freshwater. Water pollution is one of the main causes of water scarcity. There are
many sources, like pesticides and fertilizers that come from waste which pollute the water.
Agriculture uses about 70% of the world's freshwater, although 60% of that water is being
wasted. (IMSD)
Somalia has many problems with water scarcity and many Somalis are being affected.
Between January and February of 2017 11,000 cases and 269 deaths in Somalia were a direct
result of waterborne diseases. Due to the lack of water in the country, the prices of water
barrels tripled.(BSEITTER) The key goals for government assistance in Somalia is to
establish a more effective response to the frequent disease outbreaks, identify health risks
related to groundwater, and nourish the local water supply. (SOMALIA) The government of
Somalia is incredibly corrupt and has not made efforts to assist with the water crisis. They
have not provided any plan nor development toward clean water sources. The people of
Somalia are left without support or aid by their local government. (UNITED) Somali
government has yet to have any success providing sanitary or sufficient water for their
people; therefore, there is an abundance of room for improvement through clean water
initiatives and programs.
Somalia needs help controlling the water, hunger and poverty numbers. There are
many ways Somalia could be educated to help their water needs. Somalia wants the UN to
concentrate on clean water efforts among various groups. Organizations such as UNICEF,
Mercy USA, International Committee of the Red Cross, and others are committed and trying
to help the government of Somalia sanitize and regulate their water to result in a clean
solution for the Somalis. Somalia is desperate to help manage waste in their country’s water
as well as prevent chemicals from reaching their water. Somalia desires and desperately
needs help and concentrated assistance from outside countries that are willing to lend them a
hand.
 Work Cited

Bseitter. “Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia.” ​CARE​, 5 Sept. 2018,

www.care.org/emergencies/somalia-humanitarian-crisis

“IMSD International Master in Sustainable Development and Corporate Responsibility.”

IMSD International Master in Sustainable Development and Corporate
Responsibility RSS​, ​www.eoi.es/blogs/imsd/water-scarcity-the-main-causes/

“2017 Somali Drought.” ​Wikipedia,​ Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Mar. 2019,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Somali_drought#Causes

“Somalia.” ​UNICEF Somalia - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene - UNICEF in Action​,

www.unicef.org/somalia/wes_86.html

“United Nations Adopts Resolution Recognizing Human Right to Water and Sanitation.”
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee,​ 30 Nov. -1,
www.uusc.org/united-nations-adopts-resolution-recognizing-human-right-to-water-an
d-sanitation/
Thank you honorable Chair,
The country of Somalia feels that the issue of water scarcity is very important and
detrimental to their country’s survival because 70% of the country does not have access to
clean water. There are many Somali citizens dying each year due the lack of clean water.
Somalia's water sources are being contaminated by industrial waste and pesticides. This
body should understand that due to the problem, more than half the Somalian country does
not have access to sanitized water. In addition, the water usage extremely exceeds the
allowed amount of water based on the number of people in Somalia. The country’s drought
is also the direct cause for over six million people to be without access to water. The
government of Somalia has dealt with the issue of water scarcity by simply standing by and
watching outside organizations tackle the need for water. As a government, they have not
proposed or succeeded in developing clean water programs for their people, but instead have
relied on the help by other countries and efforts.​ ​The country of Somalia encourages the
committee to consider assisting Somalia in the funding and development of water wells that
will produce clean and nearby water for the Somali citizens.