Water Crisis in Northern Cameroon

“Cameroon ranks second in Africa for renewable water resources, behind the DRC, with about 273 cubic kilometers available annually according to FAO AQUASTAT database. Yet, access to clean water remains a major concern, especially in the north, where rapid urbanization, population growth, and water management systems that do not fit the needs of the growing population”

When we discuss natural resources, we often think of fossil fuels like natural gas, coal, and oil, which can sometimes be substituted with alternatives. Water, however, is irreplaceable there's no  substitute for it in human life, agriculture, or industry. While the total volume of water on Earth remains constant, climate change is disrupting its circulation and distribution, leading to uneven availability. This leads to the question: are we already facing a crisis, In many regions around the world, including northern Cameroon? And climate change being the catalyst of these events?

 This article focuses on the water crisis in northern Cameroon, where seasonal changes and poor infrastructure are pushing communities to suffer more than they are already. Northern Cameroon have heavy rains from June to September, followed by intense droughts from October to May. During the dry season, the  region receive intense heat waves. Household wells dry up, crops dry off without irrigation, and the heat waves can go up to 40 degrees C this makes it very difficult for people to have acess to waster . Then, sudden heavy rains comes and cause devastating floods, destroying villages, roads, and farms. These frequent flooding events are mainly caused by the sealing effect, which is when prolonged droughts harden the soil, preventing it from absorbing rainwater. When heavy rain hits the ground, water runs off rapidly, resulting in floods in a very short period of time as the ground is unable to absorb rainwater. Climate change increases the effects is it changing the weather patterns, making droughts longer and floods more frequent.

Globally, about 97% of Earth's water is saltwater, which is not suitable for most human uses. Of the remaining 3% freshwater, over two thirds is locked in glaciers, and much of the rest is in deep groundwater or remote areas. Only about 0.3% is surface freshwater in lakes and rivers, and even less, around 0.007% of total water, is easily accessible for human consumption. With a growing population and climate pressures, this scarce resource demands careful management. Cameroon ranks second in Africa for renewable water resources, behind only the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with about 273 cubic kilometres available annually according to FAO AQUASTAT database. Yet, access to clean water remains a major concern, especially in the north, where rapid urbanization, population growth, and water management systems that do not fit the needs of the growing population. The drinking water crisis in northern Cameroon is a major concern even globally, as according to the UN goals of everyone having access to drinking water by 2030(SDG), Cameroon and Northern Cameroon in particular is seriously lagging behind. Frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid affect most of the country's population and children in particular. Many communities rely on untreated sources of water, such as rivers or shallow wells, exposing them to contamination. According to UNICEF, diarrheal diseases account for 16% of children under the age of 5 years mortality in Cameroon, causing over 7,000 child deaths annually from poor sanitation and unsafe water. Globally, these issues sicken millions and kill about 1,200 children under 5 each day. To adapt to these disruptions in the water cycle, we need innovative, engineered solutions that can be easily implemented to northern Cameroon's challenges in particular and the rest of the country some of which are to improve the current water management facility managed by CAM water, produce and distribute solar powered water filtration systems and clean water detection systems which can be used by various house holds and communities across the region and the country. By prioritizing these measures, Cameroon can drastically improve the quality of life of these various communities that are seriously affected by the water crisis. The time to act is now because we are running out of time.

Cover photo:  Global Times