The Stream, August 17, 2021: Water Scarcity Leads to Violence in Cameroon

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN

• Water scarcity leads to armed conflict between cattle ranchers and fisherman in Cameroon.
• After intense flooding in provinces along the Black Sea, the death toll in Turkey rises to more than 60.
• Tropical Storm Fred is set to make landfall in Florida.
• Haiti braces for Tropical Depression Grace in the wake of a major earthquake.

The Canadian government signs a historic agreement to provide clean water to First Nations communities.

“For Tataskweyak Cree Nation, these standards mean that Canada is finally committing to draw our community’s water from a safer and healthier source.” – Chief Doreen Spence of Tataskweyak Cree Nation. Canadian officials announced a historic agreement with three First Nations communities to resolve national class action suits on safe drinking water, Canadian Lawyer Mag reports. The agreement includes $1.5 billion for those deprived of clean drinking water, $6 billion for reliable access to safe drinking water on reserve, and a plan to modernize the drinking water legislation of First Nations in Canada, among other things.

IN RECENT WATER NEWS

In Case You Missed It:

What’s Up With Water – August 16, 2021 – This week’s episode of What’s Up With Water covers government leaders attempt to improve the flow of information and reduce the wasting of water in the United Kingdom, a far-ranging drought causing wells to dry up in the United States, and warm temperatures that are devastating Greenland’s ice reserves.

HotSpots H2O: In Madagascar, Droughts Caused by Climate Change Contribute to Famine —Over the past year, parched landscape has grown even more barren in Madagascar, as the country’s worst drought in over four decades has ravaged food supplies, sweeping hunger throughout the region.

Water Scarcity Leads to Armed Conflict Between Cattle Ranchers and Fishermen in Cameroon

Hundreds of people have fled the northern border of Cameroon after conflict over water supplies left 18 people dead and 70 wounded, according to reporting from Voice of America. Clashes between cattle ranchers and fishermen in the Logone and Chari Division started in July, but escalated into armed conflict late last week. The Logone and Chari Division is part of the Lake Chad Basin, where officials say water resources have diminished by 70 percent within the last 50 years.

TODAY’S TOP WATER STORIES, TOLD IN NUMBERS

62 PEOPLE

In the aftermath of devastating floods in Turkey, 62 people have been reported dead, Al Jazeera reports. Provinces like Kastamonu, Sinop, and Bartin along the Black Sea were hit the hardest, officials said. Between the three provinces, 454 buildings were severely damaged or completely ruined. Aid workers have successfully evacuated more than 2,000 people, although emergency crews continue to search through many buildings that have partially collapsed for nearly 80 people still believed to be missing.

60 MPH

As of Monday morning, Tropical Storm Fred maintained maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour and was expected to make landfall on the western Florida Panhandle Monday afternoon or early evening, CNN reports. The storm system regained tropical storm status Sunday morning over the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to increase its strength as it moves through the warm waters of the gulf. The National Hurricane Center forecasts the storm will bring dangerous storm surge, river flooding and possible tornadoes, but quickly weaken after landfall.

ON THE RADAR

Amid the aftermath of a devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake, Tropical Depression Grace is set to pass over Haiti and could lead to mudslides and flooding, The New York Times reports. The National Hurricane Center said the storm could dump up to 15 inches of rain in some areas of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This week, parts of the Virgin Islands, the Leeward Islands, and Puerto Rico could receive three to six inches of rain and the storm is expected to move through Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas next week.

Jane Johnston

Jane is a Communications Associate for Circle of Blue. She writes The Stream and has covered domestic and international water issues for Circle of Blue. She is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University, where she studied Multimedia Journalism and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. During her time at Grand Valley, she was the host of the Community Service Learning Center podcast Be the Change. Currently based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jane enjoys listening to music, reading and spending time outdoors.