Topic: Ensuring Access to Potable Water
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Shelby Mendham
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Venezuela position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Venezuela is in the middle of a terrible drought and water crisis, this year alone the amount of rainfall has been measured to be fifty to sixty five percent lower than in past years. The lack of rainfall is caused by El Nino, a complex series of climatic changes. Five hundred thousand Venezuelans are without water and every twenty one days are water rations are handed out. This drought is starting to create tension with many people beginning to steal water wherever they can find it, swimming pools, fountains and even stopping tanker trucks to siphon the water out of it while some have began to protest. The drought also has put a strain on infrastructure and on their economy. The effects of the drought and subsequent lack of potable water has caused inflation and food shortages, continuing to aggravate the already existing problems the nation has.
Drinking water is a human right and Venezuela is incapable of providing this right. They haven’t experimented with many solutions except for the rationing water. With the very limited funding for any experimentation for ways of achieving potable water, they haven’t made any progress in finding ways to provide the clean drinkable water for their people. With the involvement of the UN Venezuela could solve their water crisis by being able to provide water for their people, resolving some of the tension and rioting created by the drought. The UN could provide necessary aid for the people in Venezuela, and Venezuela would support any efforts or motions to obtain this aid.
