Water sustains life, but what happens when it is weaponised? In the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, desalination plants supplying millions in the Gulf have become targets. This reflects a growing pattern: water infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable as global scarcity intensifies.
The United Nations warns of looming “water bankruptcy” driven by climate change and rising global demands, including AI data centres. This problem worsens in wartime, as water sources are deliberately destroyed.
“Targeting water infrastructure is not just a military strategy; it is a crime against humanity,” says Kaveh Madani, Director of the UNU Institute for Water, Environment & Health.
Host Stefanie Dekker discussed the issue with environmental policy and climate programmes expert Zeina Moneer. Disrupting water supply during war threatens not only the current crisis but also future generations' access to water.
