What does it mean to no longer have access to clean water during armed conflict?

First and foremost, it means that life itself is at risk: human beings cannot survive more than three days without water. Secondly, everyone needs water to wash, cook, clean their clothes and belongings. A lack of water leads to a decline in bodily hygiene and a deterioration of one's immediate environment, such as accommodation and kitchen utensils, which may very quickly lead to the rapid development of epidemics.

In addition, people may have to take risks to find water. Looking for water in a city under siege can mean putting your life on the line for a few litres of a very common substance! In certain semi-arid regions such as the Horn of Africa, variations in climate from one year to another and a general lack of security force nomadic and sedentary populations into conflict over access to water − a vital resource for humans and livestock. When cattle are dying of thirst, people can no longer safeguard their own subsistence. Nomads are then forced to migrate in search of pastures beyond their traditional areas and may come into conflict with other populations.


Lack of water often incites antagonism between communities. What is the value of the ICRC's approach in such circumstances?

In crisis situations where the ICRC intervenes, it is often difficult to identify with any certainty the causes of the tensions between communities. Existing problems are sometimes exacerbated by increased scarcity of water resources, or, in extreme cases, the struggle for water can become the main cause of the confrontation. Whatever the case, ICRC field engineers are responsible for finding solutions that help ease tensions between communities. Improved access to water is achieved through the restoration of pumping stations and wells, the drilling of boreholes and sometimes direct distributions in emergency situations.

Our engineers must also be conscious of the communities' socio-economic circumstances to find appropriate solutions and ensure that a particular water project does not in fact increase tensions. For this reason we involve the beneficiaries and work in close partnership with local water authorities.

We encourage dialogue, which allows us to negotiate our activities in an effective way so that our efforts benefit everyone regardless which side the people we are helping are on. We have always succeeded in reaching agreement with local authorities regarding the fair distribution of water. An impartial and neutral ICRC stands behind its convictions, and water is no exception.

Our constant concern is the protection of all persons who have the job of bringing water home, be they women, children or men. To this end, we drill wells as near as possible to where the beneficiaries live to reduce the risk of attack when people fetch water. The ICRC also plays the role of facilitator in a number of urban contexts where the staff of local water authorities no longer feel it's safe to carry out their work. By accompanying local field engineers on the job, the ICRC offers them the protection that the Red Cross emblem provides, in other words, acceptable security conditions. This has been the case for example in Iraq, Haiti and Lebanon.


More and more, conflicts affect highly urbanized zones, as witnessed during the summer of 2006 in Lebanon. How is the ICRC responding to this challenge?

The ICRC has developed know-how in urban environments over the last 20 years, especially in complex emergencies where population density is high, water supply systems are relatively sophisticated and the authorities are fragmented. At first, the risk of epidemics must be prevented, but this cannot be achieved without knowledge of the technical systems in place. The ICRC's long-term presence in a number of countries has given us this knowledge, not only concerning water supply systems, but also with regard to the men and women who make them work. For example, in the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan, ICRC engineers and local water authorities have accomplished miracles in record time.

Once access to clean water is ensured, we go to great lengths to improve existing water supply infrastructures, for in the majority of cases these systems are no longer able to meet the demands placed upon them, due to population growth and lack of investment in maintenance and restoration. In all cases, these operations are part of a strategy to respond to the long-term objectives of the water authorities and the needs of the population. We do not apply band-aid solutions. Our work is in-depth and looks at the long term.

It's important to point out that our objective does not relate to pure engineering. Public health is our primary concern. Access to water is not enough – one must ensure long-term production of a sufficient amount of quality water. This is why there should be an international day dedicated to water and sanitation, for these two aspects cannot be dissociated.


ICRC engineers are also active in places of detention. What is their approach?

We work with detaining authorities in a supportive manner. We try to avoid substitution unless the lives of detainees are immediately at risk. This kind of preventative work is carried out over the long term as typhus and cholera epidemics are very difficult to eradicate in prison environments.

ICRC engineers have to juggle a number of concerns to avoid or contain the spread of epidemics in very confined spaces. Unlike in rural environments, the same quantity of water per person in enclosed environments is not sufficient to ensure an acceptable level of sanitation. We have to be very professional in our approach.

Our assistance work in places of detention is very complementary to the ICRC's protection activities. Our engineers in the field are focused on the detainee's well-being and the improvement of the material conditions of detention. By material conditions, we mean access to water, whether for drinking or washing, as well as food security, by ensuring that the kitchens work properly. Their work also covers general living conditions and the amount of space available to each detainee: in this we are referring to ventilation, lighting and access to the outdoors.

Finally, we take into account the situation in areas neighbouring places of detention as the whole of the population must be treated fairly. In many cases, we develop projects in the surrounding areas to keep the population from feeling marginalized. It's the same logic necessary in camps for the displaced – the resident population must benefit from similar conditions with regard to access to water and health supply systems.