Water, Sanitation & the Environment

 

Water Matters: Ensuring Sanitation for All!

Water is essential for life, serving as a cornerstone for health, food and energy security, education, and overall economic development. Sustainable water management not only protects communities from natural hazards but also enhances living standards and creates employment opportunities, along with a multitude of ecosystem services.

Despite notable advancements in recent years, over two billion people globally still lack access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. While rural areas have seen a decline in the unserved population, urban regions are experiencing stagnation or even growth in those without adequate water supply.

Compounding these challenges are issues of water scarcity, driven by conflicts, climate change, and pollution, which increasingly threaten both human health and environmental integrity. According to various United Nations agencies, achieving universal access to safe drinking water by 2030, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, will necessitate a six-fold increase in current global progress rates.

Eritrea, characterized by its arid and semi-arid climate as part of the Sahelian Belt, has endured recurring droughts over the decades. The country's surface water resources are distributed across five major river basin systems: Setit, Mereb-Gash, Red Sea Basin, Barka Ansebas, and Danakil Ba, collectively yielding an estimated mean annual runoff of approximately 9,967 million cubic meters (Mm³). Of this, about 932 Mm³ flows eastward into the Red Sea, while around 8,613 Mm³ moves westward, with approximately 422 Mm³ remaining in depressions along the route.

Although limited, groundwater is often the most reliable source of freshwater in Eritrea. Unfortunately, rivers, lakes, and rainfall levels are declining in some areas due to overexploitation, inadequate recharge practices, deforestation, and climate change.

As in all nations, the water sector in Eritrea is vital for sustainable development. It plays a key role in socio-economic growth, poverty reduction, food security, and environmental sustainability. It is also crucial for modernization, industry, tourism, and agricultural activities.

In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Land, Water, and Environment has developed a comprehensive policy and legal framework aimed at the effective and sustainable management of water resources. Key documents such as the Water Policy, Water Law, and the Water Sector Institutional Framework were drafted in 1997 and revised in 2007, promoting integrated water resources management and ensuring inclusivity in water management activities.

Thanks to significant investments in water infrastructure and the implementation of appropriate policies, access to safe, clean water in Eritrea has dramatically improved. Currently, approximately 85 percent of the population has access to clean water, a substantial increase from just 13 percent in 1991. In alignment with the principle of “leave no one behind,” Eritrea is making concerted efforts to close the historical rural-urban gap. Access in urban areas has risen from 30 percent to over 92 percent, while rural access has climbed from 7 percent to nearly 80 percent.

Improvements in water access have also extended to schools, with over 50 percent now equipped with safe water services, a significant rise from previous years. Furthermore, health facilities have benefited from increased access to clean water, bolstering infection prevention measures, supporting safe deliveries, and reducing neonatal mortality risks.

To enhance the availability of water for irrigation and household consumption, Eritrea has constructed an extensive network of dams, catchments, and ponds. Collaborative efforts involving the government, communities, and national institutions have expanded the number of dams and ponds from 138 at independence to nearly 800 today. Last year, 16 micro-dams were built, with 25 more currently in progress and projected for completion in 2024. Plans are also in place to initiate the construction of an additional 17 micro-dams, scheduled for completion in 2024/25.

Despite these significant achievements, Eritrea remains committed to further improvements and long-term water security. Given the substantial water consumption by agriculture, management practices are being enhanced, and efforts are underway to promote conservation and efficiency through investments in technology and capacity building.

Eritrea is also taking proactive steps to protect water-dependent ecosystems while transitioning from traditional furrow irrigation to more efficient pressurized systems. Ongoing efforts include replacing outdated pipelines and installing new ones to provide communities with reliable access to safe, clean water.

Environment: think global but act local

Climate change is undeniably one of the most pressing challenges that humanity has ever faced. Its effects are being felt across every corner of the globe, with no country immune to its impacts. These effects are reshaping economies, livelihoods, and ecosystems at an unprecedented pace. Scientists and environmental organizations worldwide are documenting increasingly erratic weather patterns, rising sea levels, and the growing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, floods, and tropical cyclones. These changes exacerbate a range of issues, from water management challenges to food insecurity, threaten agricultural production, and elevate health risks, all while disrupting critical services such as water, sanitation, energy, and education.

Eritrea, a country located in the Horn of Africa, while not a major contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, has not been immune to the impacts of climate change. Its annual GHG emissions remain relatively low compared to larger, more industrialized nations, with only slight fluctuations from year to year. For example, in 2018, Eritrea’s GHG emissions were approximately 6.396 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2 eq.), marking a 20.17 percent increase from the year 2000 but only a minor decrease of 0.37 percent from 2015. Despite this, Eritrea accounts for a very small fraction of global emissions, underscoring its limited role in contributing to the problem on a global scale.

Eritrea, while relatively small in geographical size, boasts a remarkable diversity of flora and fauna, both on land and in the sea. One of the country’s most ecologically significant regions is the coastal marine and island ecosystems of the Red Sea. Eritrea’s coastal waters, stretching over 3,300 kilometers (including its more than 350 islands), harbor over 1,100 fish species and 44 genera of hard coral. These waters have some of the highest levels of biodiversity and endemism of any marine ecosystem, with around 18 percent of fish species and 20 percent of coral species endemic to the region. Mangrove forests line between 380 to 400 kilometers of Eritrea’s mainland and island coastlines, supporting three of the seven mangrove species found in the Red Sea. These ecosystems play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity, protecting shorelines, and sequestering carbon.

Eritrea’s approach to environmental conservation and sustainability is both comprehensive and multifaceted. Recognizing the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change, the country has undertaken various initiatives aimed at preserving natural resources, promoting sustainability, and bolstering resilience against environmental challenges. One key practice is terracing, a method used to conserve soil and water on sloping lands. By constructing ridges and channels, terracing reduces soil erosion and slows the flow of water, thus supporting more intensive cropping and sustainable agricultural practices. This is particularly vital for Eritrea, where soil and water are precious resources.

Additionally, Eritrea has a long history of employing water diversion techniques to manage water resources effectively. This practice reduces water degradation, supports irrigation, and prevents the destruction caused by floods. Furthermore, tree planting and afforestation efforts across Eritrea are part of a broader strategy to restore degraded lands, reverse deforestation, and combat the effects of climate change. These efforts not only help sequester carbon dioxide but also contribute to the restoration of ecosystems and enhance the country’s resilience to the changing climate.

One of Eritrea's most pioneering policies in environmental conservation is its early ban on plastic bags. In 2002, the government recognized the detrimental effects of plastic pollution on both land and marine environments and took decisive action to ban plastic bags. The ban, which came into full effect in January 2005, prohibited the import, production, sale, and distribution of plastic bags across the country. Eritrea became one of the first countries in Africa and one of the few in the world at the time to enact such a comprehensive ban, encouraging the use of sustainable alternatives and helping to reduce litter and plastic pollution.

Eritrea's commitment to environmental protection extends to the international stage. The country is a signatory to numerous international conventions and agreements that promote environmental sustainability, wildlife protection, and biodiversity conservation. These include the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), among others. These conventions help guide Eritrea’s domestic environmental policies and demonstrate its dedication to tackling global environmental challenges through international cooperation.

Further highlighting its international engagement, Eritrea actively participates in environment-related forums and organizations based in Geneva and Gland, Switzerland. These include the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, to name a few. Eritrea’s involvement in these forums is a testament to its proactive approach to environmental governance and its commitment to collaborating with the global community on environmental issues.

In addition to its policies and international participation, Eritrea's environmental efforts have garnered recognition from prominent international figures. For instance, Reena Ghelani, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Niño Response, recently visited Eritrea and expressed her admiration for the country’s efforts in addressing environmental challenges. After meeting with government officials and touring various regions of the country, Ghelani stated, "I was impressed by what I saw in Eritrea." She emphasized that "there is a lot to learn from the way [the Eritrean] government and partners are investing to protect the environment and build community resilience."

Eritrea’s approach to addressing climate change reflects a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of environmental health, economic development, and societal well-being. By focusing on sustainable practices, investing in conservation, and actively participating in global environmental initiatives, Eritrea is charting a course toward greater environmental resilience. Despite the country’s relatively small contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, it is making significant strides in mitigating the effects of climate change and safeguarding its unique ecosystems for future generations.

In conclusion, while Eritrea faces many challenges posed by climate change, it has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting the environment and promoting sustainability. Through innovative policies, active participation in international agreements, and a focus on resilience and conservation, Eritrea offers valuable lessons for the global community in the fight against climate change. As the world continues to grapple with this existential challenge, Eritrea’s experiences and actions provide important insights into how countries can work toward a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.