When Water Becomes a Weapon

In a recent podcast, Daniel Herrero Marín asked me about an experience that left a deep impact on my personal and professional life.

Without hesitation, I recounted my trip to Angola, a journey that shaped my understanding of war, resilience, and the role of water in human survival and conflict.

War has been a constant companion to humanity, an unfortunate thread running through our history, and my experience in Angola revealed the weaponization of water.

This isn’t an article on geopolitics, though we could explore that another time, but a reflection on how a trip to a post-war landscape reflected the centrality of water in conflict and survival.

The Context of Water in Conflict

I came across a graph recently, illustrating the cyclical nature of conflicts and how water invariably finds itself at the center.

It’s ironic, water, a fundamental human right, often becomes a weapon of power and destruction.

The gravity of this issue prompted the United Nations to name 2024 the “Year of Water for Peace.”

On our platform, we hosted an episode with the World Youth Parliament for Water and Marta Zaragoza Navarro to discuss this critical issue.

Watch Episode

Water is life, but in conflict zones, it can also be a tool to control and devastate.

Angola, a country scarred by one of Africa’s longest civil wars, taught me this firsthand.

Arriving in Angola: First Impressions

In 2014, my company, Abengoa, was exploring a project to construct water treatment plants in Huambo, Angola’s former capital.

Preparing for the trip was itself a challenge with my colleague Antonio Gavira García (brave and adventurous), deciding whether to take Malarone to prevent malaria (a harsh medication), navigating scarce hotel options in Luanda, and confronting the shocking expense of the city (a $35 cheeseburger was my initiation to understand the cost of living in different countries).

It may go up and down depending on the year, but Luanda is Top Expensive.

A City of Resilience: Huambo

The real essence of Angola came alive in Huambo, a city with scars of war yet exuded a unique, tranquil charm.

Huambo had endured some of the worst horrors of the Angolan Civil War, which spanned decades from 1975 to 2002.

The war left its mark on the city—literally. Potable water storage tanks and facilities were riddled with bullet holes, grim reminders of how water infrastructure had been targeted during attacks.

Local residents shared stories of how opposing forces would disable water supplies to force surrender.

A Close Call with Landmines

One day, while searching for a water intake, our team found ourselves driving along a one-way narrow road bordered by Do Not Cross: Mining Zone signs.

As we ventured further, we realized turning back was almost impossible. The only viable option was to make a 180-degree turn, momentarily crossing the mined area.

Those ten seconds felt like an eternity. The tension in the vehicle was only for me, dont know why the rest were so happy!!

Miraculously, we emerged without any issue, but the incident drove home the perilous conditions under which people in Angola live every day.

The Weaponization of Water

In Huambo, water wasn’t just a resource; it was a strategic asset.

Destroying or controlling water facilities during the war had been a calculated tactic to weaken the enemy.

It reflects waters immense value, not just as a life-sustaining resource but as a symbol of power.

If something as essential as water can hold such power in conflict, why do we so often take it for granted in our daily lives?

Today, with nearly 9 billion people on the planet, access to water remains a challenge in many regions.

The struggle to secure water supply projects is a clear understanding of its critical role in human survival and development.

Water connects us all. It sustains life and, tragically, can also be used to end it.

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