Photo courtesy: Riccardo Mayer/Shutterstock. Retrieved from preventionweb.net
Comoros is truly a unique context. Comprising several small islands separated by vast distances, the country’s largest island, Grande Comore, is less than 1,200 square kilometers. With its limited land area, the country is reliant on small watersheds and aquifers that have very little capacity to store water. This makes these fragile systems highly sensitive to any shifts in rainfall patterns, leaving the nation vulnerable to droughts, flash floods, erosion, and soil salinization. Reduced rainfall directly affects river flow and groundwater recharge, particularly during the dry season.
On Grande Comore, there are no permanent rivers. On the islands of Anjouan (Ndzuani) and Mwali, rivers that were once permanent are increasingly turning ephemeral, with some disappearing entirely.
Presently, water security is a critical concern across all islands and the outlook is worsening with climate change. Projections point to greater rainfall variability, prolonged droughts, and an increase in both the frequency and intensity of storm flooding. Torrential rains not only erode watersheds, further depleting surface and groundwater resources, but also damage vital water supply infrastructure, exacerbating the crisis.
Recognizing the urgency, the Government of Comoros has made water access a top priority, as reflected in the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution and Comoros’ Emerging Plan (PCE 2030), with the bold ambition of providing 100 percent of the population with reliable, climate-resilient water supplies by 2030, with no one left behind. To make this happen, the government is mobilizing efforts from international partners, local government and communities alike.