7.3.4
Conflict Over Water
International Conflict over Water
International Conflict over Water
Limited water supply can lead to the conflict of water users and players. The River Nile and the River Mekong flow through multiple countries and so conflicts arise internationally.
River Nile background
River Nile background
- The Nile is 6,700km long and is shared between 11 nations including; Uganda, Burundi, Sudan, Kenya and Egypt. There is a history of conflict between these nations over the river that is a vital resource.
- Egypt has even threatened any country upstream of them that tries to dam the Nile River with War.
River Nile controversy
River Nile controversy
- In 1929, a Nile agreement between Egypt and the UK (Sudan was a British Colony at the time), gave Egypt complete anonymity over developments on the Nile. This agreement did not include any other countries that border the Nile.
- In 2011, Ethiopia began the construction of a Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam, which Egypt contested.
- In March 2015, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan signed an agreement over the Dam. This has still not resolved the problems surrounding other Nations rights to water.
River Mekong
River Mekong
- The Mekong River provides water for Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and China.
- Chinese dams at the headwaters threaten the water availability to nations that are further downstream.
- These nations are also damming the river and taking in more water from the river.
National Conflict over Water
National Conflict over Water
Limited water supply can lead to the conflict of water users and players. Ethiopia is an example of where limited water supply has caused conflicts within a country.
Background
Background
- In Ethiopia, internal controversy has happened over the Gilgel Gibe III Dam on the Omo River, which began in 2008.
- The cost of the dam was US$1.8 billion and it started generating electricity in late 2015.
- 200,000 people (largely indigenous residents) downstream of the Dam rely on the seasonal floodwaters to replenish the dry soils for their subsistence farming.
Concerns
Concerns
- Many ethnic groups (i.e. Mursi and Nyangatom) are already threatened by poor crop yield and the Gilgel Gibe III Dam threatens their livelihood and survival.
- Tribal conflict is a concern because of the minimal water supplies.
- The Dam’s potential impact on Lake Turkana (a World Heritage Site) did lead to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee calling for the construction to be halted in 2011.
- Lake Turkana's water levels could drop 10 metres, increasing the salinity of the water and threatening 300,000 people and local wildlife.
Controversy
Controversy
- Those in favour of the Gilgel Gibe III Dam say artificial floods could continue supporting the indigenous population and establishing large plantations of cotton and sugar cane could economically benefit these populations.
- The Ethiopian army has been accused of human rights violations against those opposing the Dam and plantations.
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
Jump to other topics
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
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