France’s poorest island is parched because of drought and underinvestment

In Mayotte, the poorest place in the European Union, the scarcity of water has become a pressing issue due to a prolonged drought and years of underinvestment and mismanagement of water resources. This French territory, located off Africa’s eastern coast, now faces a water crisis where taps run only one day out of three. The consequences of this crisis are far-reaching, with diseases like cholera and typhoid making a resurgence.

The situation has become so dire that even the French army had to step in to distribute water and maintain order during tensions over water supplies. This crisis serves as a stark reminder to the French government about the challenges and costs associated with managing the impacts of human-caused climate change in their far-flung territories.

The island of Mayotte, home to approximately 350,000 people, now relies on a strict water rationing schedule. Water flows between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. every three days, forcing families to carefully plan their use of water for cooking, cleaning, and other essential tasks. Those without plumbing in the poorer neighborhoods must queue up at public taps, using buckets, jerrycans, and reused bottles to collect water for their needs.

Racha Mousdikoudine, a resident of Mayotte, is actively involved in coordinating a protest movement called “Mayotte is Thirsty.” This movement demands accountability for alleged embezzlement, leaks, and the lack of investment in sustainable water supplies. It seeks to draw attention to the dire situation and calls for solidarity from all French citizens, emphasizing that this crisis could happen in any French department.

The government’s hope lies in the upcoming rainy season, but residents remain skeptical, believing it won’t be sufficient to address the deep-seated water problems. The Minister for Overseas Territories acknowledged that the people of Mayotte have been forced to “accept the unacceptable.”

This water crisis has disproportionately affected the most disadvantaged communities in Mayotte, where the majority of the population is Black, and many are struggling migrants from neighboring Comoros, facing increased government scrutiny.

In the past, Mayotte had access to ample water resources, with springs and rivers in the district of Combani providing 80% of the island’s water. However, the current drought has severely depleted these resources. Human-induced climate change has made droughts more frequent and extreme in some regions, exacerbating the situation.

In addition to drought, the water system in Mayotte has been plagued by leaks and inefficiencies. The local water union blames water rationing on a lack of production capacity rather than a shortage of water. The central government has pledged emergency measures, including drilling for new springs, renovating a desalination plant, and extending the distribution of bottled water to all residents.

However, residents remain skeptical about the government’s ability to deliver on these promises, as they have seen delays, missed deadlines, and allegations of corruption in the past.

The neighboring Comoros, facing similar climatic challenges, has received aid from the U.N. Development Program for a $60 million water management project aimed at better capturing rainwater and tracking usage. This underscores the stark inequalities and complex relationships between France and its former colonies, like Mayotte.

While wealthier residents in Mayotte can afford personal water tanks to ensure a continuous water supply, the majority of the population lives below the French poverty line, making bottled water an unaffordable luxury. This has led to the consumption of brackish water or, in some cases, no water at all. The water crisis has also exacerbated hunger due to reduced crop production.

In conclusion, Mayotte’s water crisis is a stark reminder of the need for sustainable water management, particularly in the face of climate change. It highlights the inequalities faced by the most vulnerable populations and the challenges of managing essential resources in far-flung territories like Mayotte. The situation calls for immediate action and accountability to ensure the well-being of its residents.

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More about Mayotte water crisis

• Mayotte water crisis highlights climate change impact
• French government’s response to Mayotte’s water crisis
• “Mayotte is Thirsty” protest movement demands accountability
• Impact of water scarcity on Mayotte’s vulnerable population
• Role of climate change in exacerbating drought in Mayotte