Water Crisis in Chad. Kevin Wu, Tino Spiliotopoulos

Transcription

1 Water Crisis in Chad. Kevin Wu, Tino Spiliotopoulos

2 Profile of Chad President: Idriss Déby (1990) Prime Minister: Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet (2013) Land area: 486,178 sq mi (1,259,201 sq km); total area:495,755 sq mi (1,284,000 sq km) Population (2014): 11,412,107 (growth rate: 1.92%); birth rate: 37.29/1000; infant mortality rate: 90.3/1000; life expectancy: Capital and largest city (2011 est.):n'djamena, 1.079National name: République du Tchad Languages: French, Arabic (both official); Sara; more than 120 languages and dialects Ethnicity/race: Sara 27.7%, Arab 12.3%, Mayo-Kebbi 11.5%, Kanem-Bornou 9%, Ouaddai 8.7%, Hadjarai 6.7%, Tandjile 6.5%, Gorane 6.3%, Fitri-Batha 4.7%, other 6.4%, unknown 0.3% (1993 census) Religions: Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%, other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census) Literacy rate: 35.4% (2011 est.)

3 Description of Safe Drinking water problem The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN children s relief organization UNICEF rank Chad sixth worldwide among all the nations that urgently need access to drinking water. Only about four per cent of the rural population have clean water to drink. At temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius, the pumping process is difficult work, but much less exhausting than before, when there was no well in the village. Nevertheless, especially in rural areas, gaining access to the precious water is an effort for many people.two thousand years ago Lake Chad in the east of the country was once the same size as Germany. The lake has shrunk by almost 95 per cent due to the pressure from the population, desert formation and climate change. Today, the lake is 2 metres deep on average and about the size of Berlin.

4 sources of drinking water Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa, is home to an estimated 11 million people more than half of whom are under the age of 18. It is one of the poorest places in the world. It was once situated on the shore of Lake Chad, when it was one of Africa s largest freshwater lakes. Since 1960, the lake has shrunk in size by 95 per cent. According to scientists, if nothing is done, it could disappear over the next 20 years. Some 20 to 30 million people are dependent on Lake Chad.

5 FACTORS INFLUENCING ACCESSIBILITY TO CLEAN WATER Climate Change Struggling Economy Weak and Corrupt Government Garbage Not keeping up with Modern Technology OverPopulation

6 health problems and diseases It is frequently contaminated and people get sick with diarrhoea, cholera or other diseases caused by an impure water supply. Malnutrition is an increasing problem as the waters of Lake Chad, once one of the largest bodies of fresh water in Africa, recede. Lake Chad has shrunk in size by 95 per cent since 1960 and, according to scientists, could disappear in another 20 years. An estimated 20 to 30 million people are dependent on Lake Chad. As the lake shrinks, desertification increases and malnutrition becomes more serious.

7 Number of people affected

8 Solutions to the problem 1. Agricultural engineers have been working for two decades to boost Lake Chad region s productivity by building irrigation schemes. 2. So far, they have increased the area under irrigation to 140,000 hectares (10,000 meters in one hectare), including 30,000 from an electric pump scheme that was started in But water levels are too low for these schemes to operate as they should. 4. Instead of growing, the region s agricultural productivity has fallen, compounded by years of scant rains. 5. An estimated 35,000 tons of annual food production has been lost.

9 Sources "Africa's Vanishing Lake Chad Africa Renewal Online." UN News Center. UN, n. d. Web. 12 Nov Bloemen, Shantha. "Lake Chad's Receding Water Level Heightens Risks of Malnutrition and Disease." N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov "CARE Warns That Plight of Central African Republic Refugees and Returnees Should Not Be Ignored." N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov "Chad: Water Shortage Visible from Space SWISSAID." Chad: Water Shortage Visible from Space SWISSAID. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov "Vanishing Lake Chad A Water Crisis in Central Africa." N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov "Vital Water Graphics." Lake Chad: Almost Gone -. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov