Rising Displacement Numbers Spotlight Need for Long-Term Water Solutions

Record Displacement Numbers and Clean Water Crisis

The global refugee crisis has reached staggering proportions, with over 123 million people being forcibly displaced by the end of 2024, according to figures released by UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency). This situation represents the highest recorded number of displaced individuals in history. As millions reside in refugee camps due to conflict, persecution, and other crises, the urgency for reliable access to clean water becomes ever more critical.

The Water Crisis in Refugee Camps

Refugee camps, often described as temporary solutions for displaced populations, have evolved to function more like enduring cities, yet they frequently lack the fundamental infrastructure necessary for safe living conditions. Nicolas Barbieri, Chief Commercial Officer at Hydrachem, emphasizes that the current strategies for ensuring clean water access are inadequate and often seen merely as emergency measures. This mindset can lead to severe health risks and disease outbreaks, as seen in past incidents where overcrowding, insufficient sanitation, and poor hygiene facilities have contributed to infections like cholera and measles.

In 2024, UNHCR responded to reported outbreaks of diseases across various refugee-hosting nations. For instance, in Bangladeshi camps housing Rohingya refugees, over 15,000 cases of dengue were documented. Such statistics highlight a dire public health crisis that threatens the well-being of displaced families who have already suffered immensely.

A Call for Permanent Infrastructure

Barbieri calls for a fundamental shift in the humanitarian sector toward planning and delivering water access in refugee settings. He argues that the first consideration in establishing any refugee camp should be the provision of clean water, which could be needed for many years. "We need a systematic approach that recognizes the reality of these settlements as prolonged housing instead of short-term fixes," he states.

Hydrachem proposes that integrating sustainable water infrastructure must be part and parcel of camp planning from the outset, rather than being an afterthought once immediate needs are addressed. The organization has decades of experience in providing practical water purification solutions, highlighting their OASIS water purification tablets, which offer an effective means of ensuring safe drinking water at the point of use.

Hydrachem's tablets are designed to combat bacteria, viruses, and parasites, making them suitable for both emergency responses and long-term operations. By embedding proven water purification technologies into the fabric of refugee camp planning, there’s potential for substantial improvements in public health.

The Cost of Inaction

"Prevention is always more cost-effective than responding to crises after they emerge," underscores Barbieri. He points out that the financial and humanitarian costs of treating disease outbreaks far exceed the investment in clean water solutions. With displacement nearly doubling in the last decade, the humanitarian sector stands at a crucial crossroads. It must either continue treating refugee camps as temporary solutions or embrace the necessity of permanent infrastructure capable of addressing long-term needs.