Circumscribing the Nexus between Natural Disaster, Water Resources and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is prone to a wide variety of natural disasters. The occurrence of phenomena such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, droughts, wildfires leave behind huge losses of life and property. With an estimated population of 880 million in 2005, SSA fast growing population rate of 2–4% per annum, the number of people exposed to disasters will continue to rise. Given the fact that there is a nexus between water resources, poverty and natural disaster occurrence, it is but paramount that studies should be carried in this domain. Unfortunately, many studies tally on the pressures exerted by anthropogenic activities on water resources, but pay less attention to the link between disaster occurrence water resources and poverty, especially in SSA. Again, SSA lags behind in terms of scientific knowhow to predict and provide solutions as regards disaster management in many ways. Moreover, there is a general laxity on the part of policy-makers to invest in science and innovations coupled with relatively weak infrastructure that characterize the few scientific institutions. Knowing that water resources are essential to both humanity and the environment and that the occurrence of natural disasters might reduce the economic importance of water resource, it is imperative to shed light in this area. This article, therefore, raises awareness and examines the links between natural disasters, water resources and poverty in SSA.

Keywords: Natural disaster, Water resources, Poverty, Sub-Saharan Africa