Girls drinking water from a tap against the wall (Image: Getty)
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Labour must help tackle the global water crisis to meet its manifesto pledge, a charity boss has warned.
Tim Wainwright, chief Executive of WaterAid UK, said that is essential if the Government wants to create a world-free from poverty on a livable planet from a “mere pipe dream into a tangible reality”.
He said: “Right now, millions of lives are being torn apart by climate change. Whether through mass flooding with too much water or deadly droughts with too little, we’re seeing it destroying homes, separating families, crippling crops, and forcing women and girls to walk for hours in search of water.
“And while climate change is now impacting every corner of the world, it is still the world’s most vulnerable communities paying the highest price for a crisis they have done the least to cause.
“The new Labour Government has a real opportunity to lead the world in tackling the global water crisis, by ensuring water is prioritised across country action plans and financial commitments at COP29.
“This will not only provide a lifeline to those on the climate frontline but will unlock a safer, more secure and prosperous world for all.
“Only then can the UK government transform its manifesto vision of a ‘world free from poverty on a livable planet’ from a mere pipe dream into a tangible reality.”
Climate Migration in Malawi
Julius Chibondo 60, his wife, Sophie Frank, 36, and the rest of his family migrating from Kampheko 2 (Image: WaterAid/ Dennis Lupenga)
Severe drought has hit Mangochi, Malawi drying up major water sources.
This has led to a mass exodus of families from Kampheko 2 to Kampheko 1, with people migrating in search of water to find alternative places to live, farm and set up their lives.
While Kampheko Village 1 has water, there are huge piles of rocks everywhere diminishing good places to farm.
Nonetheless, the community survives due to the availability of a functional borehole which provides water to the entire community.
However, during the day, most people still have to travel back to the neighbouring village which they used to call home to work – a daily toil people must go through of working 32km every day back and forth between villages. One of the oldest community members – Millias Mandauka, a 74-year-old man – who cannot walk 32km everyday on a round trip has decided to stay behind Kampheko 2 village where his family (wife and 3 year old boy) bring him water as he tries his best to work on his farm so that his family can survive. He is the last individual standing as the rest of the community members left the area.
Nepal Floods
Floods in Nepal (Image: WaterAid)
In September, Nepal experienced what was described by some as the worst flooding to hit the country’s capital city Kathmandu and its surrounding valleys. The monsoon rains caused the Bagmati River, which runs through the capital city, to rise to more than 2 metres higher than safe levels.
This deadly flooding resulted in extreme landslides and claimed the lives of more than 200 people. Avash, 35, who works for the team in WaterAid Nepal, was one of the people to experience this devastation first-hand for the first time – his house was flooded twice in the space of two months.
Women Remain Resilient in the Face of Climate Change – in Pakistan
Ameer Bakhsh in Kalui village, Pakistan (Image: WaterAid/ Khaula Jamil)
Badin in Sindh, Pakistan frequently grapples with extreme climate events, from droughts to heavy rainfall.
The local economy heavily relies on agriculture, making water scarcity during droughts a significant issue, leading to lower crop quality and increased poverty.
Most residents work as laborers on lands owned by others, leaving men to seek employment in cities during droughts, while women often lack alternative income sources, exacerbating their financial hardship.
Momal Abdul Qayyum, 44, said: “In my life journey, I’ve experienced both prosperity and adversity, witnessing the ever-changing seasons of existence.
“The Jerks Canal, which runs close to our village, used to have a consistent water flow throughout the year, but now it only carries water every 15 days. Since our land is situated at the tail end, we receive very limited water, as influential individuals often divert the canal’s flow towards their own lands…[Last] year (, we’ve sowed our seeds, benefiting from the moisture left in the soil after last year’s rains and floods. However, the rainfall has been notably scarce this year, leaving us uncertain about the prospects for the upcoming harvest season.
“For our drinking and domestic needs, the entire village relies on the Jerks Canal. In the past, we used to fetch water directly from the canal, with me carrying a 35-liter container on my head. My daughters also accompanied me on these trips, even my 12-year-old younger daughter shouldering a 15-liter water container herself.
“In times of complete canal water depletion, the village must resort to calling water tankers for assistance…This is the year of drought, in such dire circumstances, no one extends a helping hand, not even when someone asks for water – people get upset over it. Each drop of water is valued like ghee, treated as a precious and expensive resource.”
Bangladesh floods
Flooding in Bangladesh (Image: WaterAid)
In August and September 2024, Bangladesh experienced severe flooding that affected 11 districts, displaced millions of people, and caused widespread damage including landslides.
They triggered an unprecedented public health emergency. Approx 6 million people were affected and over 50 people lost their lives. WaterAid spoke to individuals living in Paikgacha Khulna, who were impacted directly by the floods who re-lived the destruction and traumatic scenes witnessed.
The community came together to remove the rubble and clean up the village. People were walking for days in dirty flooded waters, which started to impact health – creating sores and infection.
Girls and women had no where to manage their menstrual hygiene, as toilets were flooded and pads had to be washed in the dirty water – contributing to the major health crisis.
Chanchala Rani Mondal said: “We are facing a severe shortage of drinking water, the water tanks and taps are all submerged. We are forced to drink this floodwater now, there is a serious crisis of water. There is no road to go back to our house, all the bricks of the road have been washed away by the floodwaters. The water is still very dirty so it is not suitable environment to go back home yet. The water is so polluted that it causes rashes and sores just from stepping in it.”