ADDIS ABABA (ENA) – A new initiative called the Africa Groundwater Access Facility (GaFa) was commenced yesterday in Somali State to help address water scarcity affecting millions of people in the Horn of Africa (HoA).
The HoA is a region characterized by significant water scarcity, resulting from a combination of factors including limited surface water, heavy reliance on inconsistent rainfall patterns, rapid population growth leading to overexploitation of water resources, and increasing climatic variability.
This scarcity transcends environmental issues, intersecting with public health, economic stability, and regional security.
Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires innovative solutions that extend beyond conventional water management strategies.
The new initiative is believed to address this persistent challenge by tapping into the region’s unexploited, millions of cubic km deep groundwater reservoirs as a sustainable development solution.
The initiative will also create a platform for IGAD member states to collaborate on ground water mapping, data sharing and other related activities that bring dividends for communities living in borderland areas.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Water and Energy, Habtamu Itefa said the HoA region is currently affected by the adverse effect of climate change such as drought and floods.
He added that Ethiopia has been exerting maximum efforts to improve the livelihood of vulnerable communities by increasing access to clean water.
In this regard, GaFa will help the region to identify the potential of ground water resources and use for commonly development.
Minister of Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti and South Sudan highlighted the importance of addressing the multifaceted challenges that requires innovative solutions extended beyond conventional water management strategies.
They also said the new initiative will foster relations among neighboring community and enhance water availability for them.
It will also help as a key platform for coordinated sustainable use of ground water in the region.
It was indicated on the occasion that investments in water, particularly the untapped wealth of groundwater, can be catalytic interventions, especially for borderlands where scarcity of resources is often a source of cyclical conflict for communities.
Several partners, including them World Bank, UNICEF, UNESCO, FAO, OCHA, and UNDP, are engaged with IGAD and member states on the GaFa initiative, it was learned.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 8 MAY 2024
