oxfam water week oxfam water week learn and think about water vulnerability

OXFAM WATER OXFAM WATER WEEKWEEK

Learn and think about water vulnerability

WATER VULNERABILITYWATER VULNERABILITY

If you are water vulnerable it means you are…

At risk

or

In danger

Because of something to do with water.

Untreated water collected from a reservoir. © Jane Beesley

Symptom Cause

Problem: water vulnerability

Like any problem, water vulnerability has symptoms and causes…

What is making water vulnerability happen.Being at risk

because of a lack of clean water.

What you see or experience when water vulnerable.

WATER VULNERABILITYWATER VULNERABILITY

SYMPTOMS OF WATER VULNERABILITYSYMPTOMS OF WATER VULNERABILITY

• Not having enough water that is clean for drinking or cooking.

• Not having toilets or sanitation (risking disease).

• Low levels of hygiene (risking disease).

• Having to travel a long way to find water.

• Not having enough water to grow crops.

Can you think of any more..?

SYMPTOMS…SYMPTOMS…

• Missing school because water has to be fetched.

SYMPTOMS…SYMPTOMS…

• Not having access to enough water.

(How many litres was the ‘ration’ in the camps?)

SYMPTOMS…SYMPTOMS…

• Risking disease from untreated water.

SYMPTOMS…SYMPTOMS…

• Lacking water to grow crops.

SYMPTOMS…SYMPTOMS…

• Having to travel to find water.

SYMPTOMS…SYMPTOMS…

• Risking disease from low levels of hygiene.

SYMPTOMS…SYMPTOMS…

• Lacking sanitation (toilets) to get rid of waste. (For example, if the toilets are flooded…)

CAUSES OF WATER VULNERABILITYCAUSES OF WATER VULNERABILITY

What do you think are the causes of water vulnerability?

• Conflict

• Drought

• Poor water infrastructure (meaning pipes, wells and irrigation)

• Floods

POOR INFRASTRUCTURE…POOR INFRASTRUCTURE…

In Tajikistan, the infrastructure was poor.

Too few pipes meant there was no water near people’s homes.

Why does a lack of infrastructure cause water vulnerability?

CONFLICT…CONFLICT…

In Syria, there has been a conflict.

People have had to move to displacement camps to escape the fighting.

Why does conflict cause water vulnerability?

Credit: EPA/Luav Abu Al-Joud

Credit: Sam Tarling/Oxfam

NATURAL DISASTERS…NATURAL DISASTERS…In 2013 Super-Typhoon Haiyan hit central Philippines.

A massive earthquake struck Haiti in 2010.

Infrastructure was destroyed and people were evacuated.

Why do natural disasters cause water vulnerability?

Credit: Vincent Malasador/Oxfam

Credit: Oxfam staff

MAKE A WATER VULNERABILITY TREEMAKE A WATER VULNERABILITY TREE

Make an issues tree:

Write ‘Water vulnerability’ (the issue) on the trunk.

Write the causes of water vulnerability next to the roots.

Write the symptoms of water vulnerability on the branches.

WATER VULNERABILITY TREE…WATER VULNERABILITY TREE…

Write the causes in the roots.

Write the symptoms in the branches.

Write the issue on the trunk.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Oxfam works with water-vulnerable communities to try to

overcome water problems.

SHORT TERM RESPONSES...SHORT TERM RESPONSES...Dealing immediately with the symptoms (like going to the doctor if you have a cold…)

boreholeswells

water

trucks

LONG TERM RESPONSESLONG TERM RESPONSESPreventing the symptoms from happening in the future. This is dealing with the causes (like exercising so you don’t catch a cold in the first place).

providing hygiene education

talking to politicians

strengthening communities

WATER VULNERABILITY TREE…WATER VULNERABILITY TREE…

Write the solutions in the fruit.

Look at your tree again.