World Water Week Highlights Urgent Need for Long-Term Water Solutions in Refugee Crises

Understanding the Growing Water Crisis for Refugees at World Water Week

As the global community gathers for World Water Week in Stockholm, pressing issues regarding water provision in crisis situations have come to the forefront. Recent statistics reveal that seven out of ten refugees worldwide are currently in extended displacement, leaving millions in dire need of reliable water and sanitation systems. Hydrachem, a leader in water purification solutions, is urging stakeholders to rethink how water infrastructure is approached in long-term crises.

The Long-Term Challenges of Displacement

Despite the conclusion of conflicts in certain regions—such as the Syrian civil war in 2024—many individuals find themselves returning to devastated infrastructure that hasn’t been addressed for years. As Helena Thybell, Executive Director of the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), remarked, the challenge lies not in understanding the solutions, but in collaborative efforts to implement them effectively. For communities with chronic displacement, such as in Syria or Yemen, the traditional model of emergency assistance is no longer viable.

In places like South Sudan, where instability has persisted since its independence in 2011, the reality is that many emergency water systems were initially designed to last for just a few months. Hydrachem is pushing for a paradigm shift—to view long-term resilience as a fundamental part of planning, rather than a stop-gap solution.

Waterborne Diseases on the Rise

The consequences of failing to provide sustainable water supply systems are severe. Communities reliant on temporary water solutions are repeatedly struck by waterborne diseases, with cholera proving particularly deadly. Reports indicate that cholera claimed nearly 7,500 lives across Africa in 2025, nearly double the previous year’s figures, illustrating the urgent need for reliable sanitation and hygiene. The Center for Global Development points out that this alarming increase is partially due to a decrease in funding aimed at maintaining necessary water and sanitation infrastructure.

A Call to Action

Nicholas Barbieri, Chief Commercial Officer at Hydrachem, emphasizes the importance of adapting to the reality of protracted crises. “Many of our products are delivered to places where the emergency phase ended years ago, yet the systems established for quick fixes remain in place long after,” he explains. As hydrating resources are trucked into settlements that have been active for over a decade, the dependence on fragile supply chains is problematic.

“Using tankers was practical during the initial emergency months, but after ten years, it becomes cost-prohibitive and ultimately unsustainable,” Barbieri adds. The implications of long-term displacement warrant a unique set of solutions that pressures governments, NGOs, and water experts to rethink financing models and logistical frameworks.

Prioritizing Humanitarian Efforts

Given that protracted crises may now span decades, it is critical that long-term water solutions take priority as a humanitarian focus. Hydrachem argues for sufficient investment in durable treatment technologies and local capabilities to operate and maintain water systems effectively. Such changes could help provide uninterrupted access to clean water even when funding may cyclically diminish.

“World Water Week serves as a crucial gathering for recognizing global efforts,” says Barbieri. “However, it is essential to evaluate whether the measures we take today will protect displaced communities in the foreseeable future—be it five, ten, or twenty years from now.” This upcoming week is not just a time for acknowledgement, but also for critical decision-making to ensure water provision doesn't fall by the wayside as crises become the norm, rather than the exception.

For more information on Hydrachem and its innovative approach to water solutions, you can visit their official website.

Conclusion

Water is a basic human need, and in times of crisis, it should not be treated as an afterthought. The discussions at World Water Week should catalyze a movement towards sustainable, long-term water solutions that recognize the evolving nature of global displacement and humanitarian crises. For both the immediate and future welfare of displaced populations, investing wisely in water infrastructures must be viewed not just as aid, but rather as a foundational component of global human rights.