South Africa: Cape Town declares drought emergency Oct. 21

Event

Officials in Cape Town declared a drought emergency on Saturday, October 21, in response to deteriorating conditions amid an ongoing drought. Mandatory water rationing is now in effect, and individuals are required to cut water usage to less than 87 liters per day. City officials believe that at current rates of consumption, water reserves could be depleted by March 2018. Security forces have reportedly been deployed to guard water infrastructure, including reservoirs, throughout the city to prevent water theft and possible social unrest.

Context

Cape Town is currently facing its worst water shortage of the past 113 years. Western Cape Province first declared a drought disaster in May. Water restrictions have been in place in Cape Town since 2005, but have become increasingly strict since December 2015. Authorities are also on guard against an increased risk of wildfires in the region due to the ongoing drought.

The southern African region has been experiencing severe droughts for almost three years, as a result of the devastating effects of the climatic phenomenon El Niño. The United Nations estimates that over 40 million people have been affected by the drought, which has also resulted in the decimation of crops and water resources, leaving millions dependent on aid. While areas such as northern South Africa, parts of Mozambique, and Zimbabwe have benefited from heavy rainfall this year, other areas, including the region around Cape Town, remain seriously affected by low precipitation levels.

Advice

Individuals in Cape Town and other drought-stricken areas are advised to conserve water, stock up on bottled water, keep abreast of the situation via local media outlets, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. water rationing measures, details available here)