Zambia and children impacted by armed conflicts

Over the past decade, the number of recorded conflicts has increased, particularly when water was used as a trigger and/or as a casualty of a conflict (Fig.

At present, the database consists of more than 1,300 entries, covering three separate categories: (1) water as a ‘trigger’ (the control of or access to water leads to violence), (2) water as a ‘weapon’ (water is used as a weapon during a conflict) and (3) water as a ‘casualty’ (direct attack on water systems) of violence. Reported violence associated with freshwater resources and water infrastructure, from 2500 bc to the present, is tracked by the open-source database Water Conflict Chronology (Pacific Institute 7). This has led to increased attention to both the role of water as a driver of conflicts 4 and the impacts of armed conflicts on water and water systems 5, 6. At the same time, freshwater as a resource 2 and related water infrastructure 3 are among the most vulnerable sectors during armed conflicts. Accordingly, it plays a pivotal role in the Sustainable Development Goals by securing societal and environmental well-being 1. Water is a fundamental and irreplaceable resource for life on Earth. Continuation of the conflict will have multiple negative sustainability implications not only in Ukraine but also on a global scale, hampering achievement of clean water and sanitation, conservation and sustainable use of water resources, and energy and food security. Our results showed that many water infrastructures such as dams at reservoirs, water supply and treatment systems and subsurface mines have been impacted or are at risk from military actions. We identified the nature of the impacts, the kind of pressures imposed on the water sector and the negative consequences for the availability and quality of freshwater resources for the civilian population. Here we analysed the multifaceted impacts of the military actions on freshwater resources and water infrastructure during the first three months of the conflict. The armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia that began in late February 2022 has far-reaching environmental consequences, especially regarding water resources and management.

Zambia and children impacted by armed conflicts