The Stream, October 24: Poor Food Outlook After Nigeria Floods

The worst flooding Nigeria has seen in 50 years has destroyed many of the crops in the country’s major food-producing region, which may lead to a food crisis, BBC reported. The floods have killed 200 people and displaced more than 1 million.

Meanwhile, fall flooding in southern Pakistan has affected 5 million people, according to government estimates, Xinhua reported. A United Nations spokesperson told reporters that people’s lives remain at risk, and that the disaster must not become a “forgotten emergency.”

Water levels in the Dead Sea dropped 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) over the last year, a record amount, Bloomberg News reported. An environmental group blames the loss on increased water use by the potash industry, but the industry insists water use along the Jordan River, which feeds the Sea, is the primary factor behind the decline.

The use of agricultural runoff water for aquaculture farms in Egypt may pose health risks, according to the Egypt Independent. Bacteria, pesticides and fertilizers in the water can accumulate in the fish and cause sickness.

More than 80 percent of Americans are concerned about the availability of clean water in the future, according to a new survey from General Electric, Reuters reported. The survey also found that 66 percent of Americans support water re-use, but only 30 percent supported having wastewater recycled into drinking water.

China has established a fund to increase environmental protection for the Sanjiangyuan nature reserve, which supplies the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers with 60 billion cubic meters (15.8 trillion gallons) of water each year, Xinhua reported.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek