Water for people.pdf - WHO Thailand Digital Repository

S E N E G A L R I V E R B A S I N , G U I N E A , M A L I , M A U R I T A N I A , S E N E G A L / 4 4 9The chameleon changes colour to match the earth,the earth doesn’t change to match the chameleon.African proverbTHE SENEGAL RIVER represents a 1,800-kilometre lifeline for amulti-ethnic, multicultural population where livestockoutnumber people. It runs through sub-Saharan Africa in amostly desert region characterized by water scarcity and subsistenceeconomies. The Organization for the Development of the Senegal River(OMVS) was created in 1972 with a mandate to ensure food securityand harmony among all riparian users. Thanks to the construction oftwo main dams providing energy, irrigated agriculture and year-roundnavigation – and to an original management approach based on aconcept of ‘optimal distribution among users’ rather than volumetricwater withdrawals – the area is gradually developing. Ironically, damconstruction has brought problems as well as benefits, and the majorconcern is water-related diseases.