Water Shortages Could Threaten Regional Stability

HONOLULU, HAWAII (7 May 2001) - A shortage of fresh water threatens many countries and could contribute to regional tensions, according to experts who presented papers at a seminar on Water in the 21st Century at the Asian Development Bank annual meeting.

"If all the earth's water fit in a gallon jug, available fresh water would equal just over a tablespoon-about three-fourths of one percent of the total," said Ainun Nishat, Country Representative of The World Conservation Union Bangladesh.

Peter Rogers, an environmental engineering professor at Harvard University, observed that of all the regions of the world, Asia has the lowest per capital availability of water, and by the year 2025, nearly 1 billion people in Asia will not have adequate access to water.

Distribution of resources could lead to major political, tensions and violence, according to Dr. Peter H. Gleick, director of the California-based Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security.

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