In 2010, the United Nations Assembly and UN Human Rights Council declared water to be a human right, a major victory for water justice advocates. While this declaration does constitute a tool for citizens to hold states accountable, it has yet to substantially change the policies, dynamics, and services that ensure the just access to water for all. Actually, operationalizing the human right to water remains an enormous challenge, one further complicated by market control, systemic privatization and commodification, increased pollution, and climate change and drought.
Lebanon, despite its natural abundance of water resources, faces a chronic water crisis. Poor management and planning have not only strained the country’s water supply, but also rendered access to safe and quality water a challenge for many households across the country.
In fact, chronic water insecurity impacts the daily lives of all people in Lebanon. While some households may be able to afford somewhat clean or bottled water, lower-income households are left with poor-quality water of uncertain origin or quality. Yet, even the cheapest options are often prohibitive for the poorest residents, illustrating the troubling implications of water as a commodity for the human right to water.
Privatization and the commodification of water exacerbate social inequities.
Among those mostly affected are already vulnerable groups: refugees, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and women.
Women disproportionately bear the burden of water-related hardships due to their traditional roles in household water management and collection. In areas experiencing water scarcity, women and girls often spend significant amounts of time collecting water, which can impede their access to education and employment opportunities. Children, particularly those under the age of five, are highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases and malnutrition, both of which are worsened by water scarcity and pollution.
In this bulletin, we share one of our latest case studies that investigates water (in)justice in Lebanon. The study examines the lived experiences of households in Bar Elias, focusing on women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. It explores the constraints in accessing water and the impact of water insecurity on daily life, gender roles, household dynamics, economic and health aspects, and available support systems.
The study delves into coping strategies such as water storage, alternative sources, social network sharing, purchasing from private vendors, water management and reuse, illegal public network connections, fetching from distant sources, and water treatment.
While centered on one locality, this study explores the broader socio-political context of Lebanon’s water crisis, emphasizing the shortcomings of current water management policies and the need for comprehensive reforms. The study critiques the lack of political will to prioritize equitable water distribution and to implement reforms that address the root causes of the crisis. It suggests that, without substantial changes in governance and resource allocation, the gap in access to clean water will continue to widen, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations.
For the study in Arabic click here
For the study in English click here
