Water is crucial to life and economies, but it can also cause or be affected by conflict. The risk of conflict is increasing due to water scarcity and climate change, making effective water resource management essential for peace. Remote sensing, using open-access satellite data, can help monitor water resources, even in conflict-affected areas. The Water Productivity through Open-access of Remotely-sensed derived data, a tool created by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has been used in conflict zones like Syria, Sudan, Mali, and Sri Lanka to monitor water resources, reduce conflict, and restore access to water.

Amidst Yemen's conflict, community-led water projects are revitalizing communities and providing essential access to clean water, transforming lives and easing burdens for millions.

Water can create peace or spark conflict. When water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal, or no access, tensions can rise between communities and countries. When we cooperate on water, we create a positive ripple effect – fostering harmony, generating prosperity and building resilience to shared challenges. We must act upon the realization that water is not only a resource to be used and competed over – it is a human right, intrinsic to every aspect of life. This World Water Day (22 March), let's unite and use water for peace and build a more stable and prosperous tomorrow.

A comprehensive data mapping exercise spearheaded by UN Human Rights in informal settlements in Serbia at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic uncovered that more than 30,000 Roma had little or no access to drinking water, over half lived without sewage services, and some 24,000 had limited or no electricity. The six-month effort identified 167,975 inhabitants in 702 Roma settlements and distributed 72,000 packages of essential food items, water, and protective gear to Roma households. The intervention strengthened Serbia’s capacity to gather and use data for broader Roma human rights and development efforts. As a result of this initiative, hundreds of Roma living in informal settlements now have safe drinking water.

Grappling with water scarcity exacerbated by rough terrain and rapid population growth, residents of Ta'iz , Yemen face immense challenges accessing clean water, a struggle alleviated by the installation of a solar-powered well pump by IOM.

Water scarcity is a critical issue for an increasing number of countries, forcing them to be more creative in water management and securing water sources.

Recently displaced children in the southern Gaza Strip are accessing only 1.5 to 2 litres of water each day, well below the recommended requirements just for survival, according to UNICEF estimates. According to humanitarian standards, the minimum amount of water needed in an emergency is 15 litres, which includes water for drinking, washing and cooking. For survival alone, the estimated minimum is 3 litres per day. The impact of this on children is particularly dramatic because children are also more susceptible to dehydration, diarrhea, disease and malnutrition.

FAO shows the effects and repercussions of water in Peru because of climate change. 

The Quinault, a Native tribal community in Washington State, has been forced to relocate their coastal village to higher ground as high tides threaten to wash away the land they’ve inhabited for thousands of years. As weather systems spin out of control across the globe, we take a closer loo

Water is essential for life and food production. Globally, 70% of freshwater is used for agriculture, which is why changing the way we grow our food and produce agricultural products can have the greatest impact. Approximately 2.4 billion people currently live in countries, where water resources are under stress, yet global water demand for agriculture is expected to increase by 35% by 2050. From the food to the fashion industries, we often take this fundamental element for granted. On this World Food Day, FAO is drawing attention to water and highlighting four individuals, who are taking action to manage this precious resource wisely, while inspiring others.

Waterborne diseases, such as cholera are endemic in Cameroon, where outbreaks have been reported every year for the past six years. Between 2022 and 2023, almost 1,900 cases of cholera were confirmed, and hundreds of deaths were recorded. In the rural municipality of Koutaba, located in western Cameroon, most people rely on extracting clean water from deep underground. Unfortunately, the deteriorated infrastructure, or lack thereof, has made it challenging to access clean water. With funding from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), UNOPS is working with the government of Cameroon and local communities to provide clean drinking water to more than 120 villages, distributed across three different regions of the country.

World Food Day, celebrated on 16 October, is dedicated to water - a precious resource that covers most of the Earth's surface, constitutes over 50% of our bodies, supports livelihoods and produces our food. However, we often take for granted the availability of water, which is not infinite. What we eat and how our food is produced has a major impact on water. Join FAO’s campaign for water action for food and sing their message. The Observance coincides with the World Food Forum (16-20 October), a global movement that empowers young people to shape a better food future for all. Be the change!

According to the new State of Global Water Resources Report 2022 by the World Meteorological Organization, the hydrological cycle is being disrupted by climate change and human activities. Droughts, heavy rainfall, and melting ice are causing significant damage to both lives and economies and threaten the long-term water security of many millions of people. Considering that the overwhelming majority of disasters are water-related, the report urges increased data sharing for early warnings and more coordinated water management as part of climate action.

Villages across rural Cameroon are getting better access to safe drinking water. With funding from KOICA, UNOPS is working in partnership with the government and communities to build and rehabilitate water infrastructure.

Our planet may be called Earth, but it is made mostly of water, just like us. It nourishes people, animals and all nature. This precious resource is vital for life yet, not everyone can enjoy it. Every drop counts and your actions matter:

• 1- Reduce food waste to reduce water waste
• 2- Eat foods like beans, lentils, and grains that use less water to produce
• 3- Don't pollute water
• 4- Find safe ways to re-use water
• 5- Draw your water action for food and join our Poster Contest! - The deadline to submit a poster is 3 November 2023.

Together, let's make sure all people can enjoy it. Water heroes are #FoodHeroes