Short-term Impact

• In the short term, drought will cause water resources to decrease and therefore make it difficult to obtain water for drinking, irrigation and basic needs. In addition, water levels in lakes, rivers, streams etc. will also decrease. In addition, plants that do not receive enough water will experience stunting and crop inefficiency, therefore it will be difficult to find good products and prices will increase. At the same time, animal husbandry activities will decrease due to lack of water and food. For this reason, people will have difficulty consuming meat and chicken. At the same time, hydroelectric power generation, which requires higher costs, will also harm the economy.

Long-term Impact

• In drought-affected areas, groundwater pumping used to meet water demand can lead to aquifer depletion. The soil subsidence caused by aquifer depletion can damage underground water storage and infrastructure. In addition, long-term drought in agricultural areas can cause the branches of woody plants to die and their ability to absorb water to disappear, resulting in the death of surrounding vegetation. Another problem is the replacement of native plant species by invasive plants. Invasive plants transform vegetation, increase the risk of forest fires and, most importantly, lead to deforestation. This reduces the habitat of wildlife and affects water resources.

Introduction

Drought is the deadliest climate-related disaster, affecting human health through, water scarcity, malnutrition, disease outbreaks, respiratory problems, mental health disorders, and even displacement. With rising global temperatures and more frequent extreme weather patterns, droughts are increasingly severe and protracted, affecting millions around the world. One of the deadliest natural disasters, droughts have contributed to nearly 700,000 deaths from 1970-2019, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Drought is usually a problem in population areas where there is no sign of water, but its impact is global, erupting into health and health crises.

Information

Water scarcity, perhaps the most direct and dangerous health impact of drought, can cause dehydration and spread waterborne diseases. With little access to clean water, people often have no choice but to rely on contaminated sources, which exacerbates the spread of diseases like cholera, dysentery and diarrhea — diseases that are especially deadly to children under five. About 2 billion people worldwide do not have safe drinking water, according to the United Nations, and the situation is made worse by drought conditions. Unsafe water and poor sanitation causes around 485,000 diarrheal deaths a year. Additionally, drought-caused food shortages put a significant strain on malnutrition concerning children, pregnant women, and the aged, the most vulnerable. Severe droughts have generated about 80% crop failure in some parts of the world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). They also pushed the prices of food upwards, rendering it impossible for some to purchase food rich in nutrients. Malnutrition compromises quite a few bodily functions, one of which is the immune system. In sub-Saharan Africa, where drought occurrence is hardly an occasional event, in 2022 alone, prolonged dry conditions pushed nearly 45 million people to a state of food insecurity.

Apart from malnutrition and diseases, droughts deteriorate air quality and increase the prevalence of respiratory diseases. Drought is responsible for dust storms, wildfires, and airborne pollutants that induce asthma attacks, bronchitis, and other respiratory illnesses. One research has said that in drought-affected areas, respiratory diseases increased by almost 20% due to poor air quality and high levels of airborne particulate matter. Also overlooked but very distressing are the mental health impacts of drought. Water shortages, economic deprivation, and displacement lead to increased anxiety, depression, and even suicide. One such study found that in Australia, with recurrent droughts, prolonged drought increases suicide rates among male farmers by 15% due to the economic stress and uncertainty.

Additionally, heatwaves often accompany droughts, exacerbating health risks, particularly among the elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that extreme heat is responsible for more than 600 deaths per year in the United States alone, many of which occur during drought conditions when cooling systems and water resources are strained. Prolonged droughts also contribute to forced migration, as water scarcity and food shortages push people to relocate in search of better living conditions. The World Bank predicts that by 2050, drought and water shortages could displace more than 700 million people globally, leading to overcrowded living conditions in refugee camps where diseases spread rapidly due to poor sanitation and limited healthcare access.

Conclusion

To conclude, drought, far from being just a natural issue, is a significant public health threat that can potentially endanger the lives of millions worldwide. Drought effects include water shortage, malnutrition, respiratory ailments, mental health illnesses, heat infections, and forced migration. With the continuing aggravation of drought conditions due to climate change, the need to take urgent steps toward improvements in water management, food security, and healthcare solutions for vulnerable groups is paramount. This will require global cooperation and sustainable policies to tackle the health impact of drought and address immediate concerns over disastrous effects on current and future generations.