Post‑war reconstruction of the water sector has to be based on assessment of water resources available for post‑war reconstruction of Ukrainian society, economy and nature and understanding of the key role of water as interconnector for security and development of Ukraine. Implementation of integrated and proactive (risk-oriented) water resources management based on European experience can be the shortest way from war emergency response to sustainable development and disaster risk resilience.
Natural water resources scarcity and unequal seasonal and spatial distribution is still a main challenge for water management in Ukraine. Old infrastructural solutions are not adequate response to new challenges and risks. Rapid warming, increasing frequency and severeness of droughts, floods, extreme weather events in Ukraine are resulted in increasing water risks related to availability and access to sufficient quantity and good quality of fresh water resources.
War activities in Eastern Ukraine since 2014 affected significantly the WS of the Donbas Region. Since 24 February 2022 the war escalation has triggered an immediate and steep rise in humanitarian needs. Main water infrastructures in many cities were damaged by military activities and as a result thousands and millions of served people have limited or do not have access to safe drinking water.
Post‑war reconstruction of the water sector has to be based on assessment of water resources available for post‑war reconstruction of Ukrainian society, economy and nature and understanding of the key role of water as interconnector for security and development of Ukraine.
Author: Anna Tsvietkova, NGO „Women Water Partnership – Ukraine”
