By Jacob Zocherman – Dam construction in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water in Turkana, Kenya’s borderland to Ethiopia, Uganda and South Sudan. Turkana’s water, already a root cause for widespread armed conflicts, particularly in the northern parts of the region. People there live according to older traditions. Most of them support themselves by herding and live a nomadic life, wandering in search of water and pasturelands. But in recent years extreme drought has made it difficult to find water for livestock. – The next war won’t be about oil. It will be about water. And that war is already here, says Joseph Elim, coordinator at Riam Riam, Turkana’s network for preventing conflicts.
The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level could fall 10 to 12 meters as a direct result of the dam construction. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level could fall 10 to 12 meters as a direct result of the dam construction. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.– We have no other income here besides from fishing. We’re going to starve if the water level sinks and we can’t live on fishing, says Dixon Chapa (sitting), one of the thousands of fishermen in Kalokol who depends on the water supply to Lake Turkana. The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level could fall 10 to 12 meters as a direct result of the dam construction. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.There are presently more than 40 species of fish in Lake Turkana. A spike in the water’s salinity, as a consequence of the Gibe 3 dam’s construction, will threaten their survival. A lower water level can also ruin the spawning grounds of some species whose rate of reproduction could stagnate. The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off.The water level in Lake Turkana has fallen in recent years due to drought. A fishing boat donated by Norway has gotten stuck on land and is now used as a playground for children in the fishing village of Kalokol. Construction of the Gibe 3 dam was approved in 2003 as part of a plan to triple Ethiopia’s energy production. But international experts and researchers predict it will also cut off up to 90 percent of Lake Turkana’s only reliable tributary, the Omo, and the water level in the lake is expected to drop between 10 and 12 meters. A strangled fresh water supply will in turn raise the salinity of the lake. That would have a devastating effect on the lake’s ecosystem. Over half a million people in the area would be forced to flee lest they starve.– Without water there’s no future for us, says Caroline Asimiti who sought refuge from extreme drought on the shores of Lake Turkana. If it hadn’t been for the lake, Caroline and her family would have starved. Her village didn’t have any water because of the drought. Construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level can sink between 10 and 12 meters as a result of the dam. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.The Turkwel River is becoming more important as one of few year-round rivers in Turkana. After years of drought, there are barely any reliable water resources left in the region. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level can sink between 10 and 12 meters as a result of the dam. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level could fall 10 to 12 meters as a direct result of the dam construction. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.Drought has forced Turkana’s herders to change their movement patterns in order to find resources. Most groups are armed and would rather die than lose their animals or give up their grazing lands. The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water.Aid organizations and climate researchers say that the drought in 2011 is the worst for the Turkana region in 60 years. Most people in the region’s northern parts have been surviving on aid from the international community. Doctors Without Borders has documented 5-year-old children who weigh less than five kilograms in several places in the region.Aid organizations and climate researchers say that the drought in 2011 is the worst for the Turkana region in 60 years. Most people in the region’s northern parts have been surviving on aid from the international community. Doctors Without Borders has documented 5-year-old children who weigh less than five kilograms in several places in the region.Drought has forced Turkana’s herders to change their movement patterns in order to find resources. Most groups are armed and would rather die than lose their animals or give up their grazing lands. The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water.The Turkwel River is becoming more important as one of few year-round rivers in Turkana. After years drought there are barely any reliable water resources left in the region. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level can sink between 10 and 12 meters as a result of the dam. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.– Dialogue is important. What country closes its embassy in a country and thinks that it’s business as usual the next day if the embassy is still closed, says Joseph Elim from the peace network Riam Riam in Turkana. Ethiopian authorities haven’t yet visited Turkana to see how the dam will affect the region’s inhabitants. Construction of the Gibe 3 dam was approved in 2003 as part of a plan to triple Ethiopia’s energy production. But international experts and researchers predict it will also cut off up to 90 percent of Lake Turkana’s only reliable tributary, the Omo, and the water level in the lake is expected to drop between 10 and 12 meters. A strangled fresh water supply will in turn raise the salinity of the lake which would have a devastating effect on the lake’s ecosystem. Over half a million people in the area would be forced to flee lest they starve.There are presently more than 40 species of fish in Lake Turkana. A spike in the water’s salinity, as a consequence of the Gibe 3 dam’s construction, will threaten their survival. A lower water level can also ruin the spawning grounds of some species whose rate of reproduction could stagnate. The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off.The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level can sink between 10 and 12 meters as a result of the dam. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.– We have no other income here besides from fishing. We’re going to starve if the water level sinks and we can’t live on fishing, says Dixon Chapa (sitting), one of the thousands of fishermen in Kalokol who depends on the water supply to Lake Turkana. The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level could fall 10 to 12 meters as a direct result of the dam construction. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.After years of drought few reliable water resources remain in the region. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level could fall between 10 and 12 meters as a result of the Gibe 3 dam. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.Kalokol’s fishing village, one of many communities which could be devastated when the Gibe 3 dam becomes operational. The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level could fall 10 to 12 meters as a direct result of the dam construction. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.Kalokol’s fishing village, one of many communities which could be devastated when the Gibe 3 dam becomes operational. The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water. Lake Turkana’s water level could fall 10 to 12 meters as a direct result of the dam construction. The people along the lake’s shores fear for the future and are taking up weapons in the struggle for natural resources.Drought has forced Turkana’s herders to change their movement patterns in order to find resources. Most groups are armed and members would rather die than lose their animals or give up their grazing lands. The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water.Drought has forced Turkana’s herders to change their movement patterns in order to find resources. Most groups are armed and members would rather die than lose their animals or give up their grazing lands. The construction of the Gibe 3 dam in southern Ethiopia is meant to guarantee large parts of the Ethiopian energy supply, but the price is high: over a half million people risk starvation when the river they live on is choked off. Now the conflict for resources is escalating and many fear a deadly war for water.Aid organizations and climate researchers say that the drought in 2011 is the worst for the Turkana region in 60 years. Most people in the region’s northern parts have been surviving on aid from the international community. Doctors Without Borders has documented 5-year-old children who weigh less than five kilograms in several places in the region.Aid organizations and climate researchers say that the drought in 2011 is the worst for the Turkana region in 60 years. Most people in the region’s northern parts have been surviving on aid from the international community. Doctors Without Borders has documented 5-year-old children who weigh less than five kilograms in several places in the region.
