A human rights organization has documented a decline this year in the capacity of wells and seasonal water sources relied upon by residents in Darfur and Kordofan, due to the impact of the war and military operations, coinciding with a sharp decline in rainfall.
The Emergency Lawyers Committee noted in a statement that “the crisis has worsened due to damage to the water infrastructure, including attacks on and destruction of dams, reservoirs, and water stations, as well as the destruction of solar panels and systems used to power water pumps, in addition to the targeting or obstruction of water-trucking vehicles.”
It confirmed that “restrictions on the movement of civilians and on access to food, water, and humanitarian assistance have made it increasingly difficult to obtain basic necessities.”
The statement indicated that “the decline in water sources has led to rising water prices, forcing residents in some areas to rely on unsafe or undrinkable sources, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases and creating conditions conducive to the spread of epidemics, amid weakened health services.”
