Human Rights Solidarity (LHRS) Statement on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
| Ref: PRS 2026/06/1046 | June 17, 2026 |
Human Rights Solidarity (LHRS) Statement on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
“Water Security in Libya: An Existential Challenge Requiring Immediate Action”
On the occasion of the UN World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, Human Rights Solidarity (LHRS) releases its 2026 report: “Desertification and Water Security in Libya.” The report warns that Libya is facing an unprecedented water crisis that threatens public health, national stability, and the rights of future generations.
Libya is one of the most water‑scarce countries in the world. Over 95% of its land is desert or semi‑desert, rainfall is extremely low, and evaporation rates are among the highest globally. The country relies overwhelmingly on non‑renewable fossil groundwater, much of which is being depleted faster than it can be assessed or managed.
The newly adopted 2050 National Water Security Strategy (NWSS) provides a comprehensive roadmap for reform, but LHRS warns that implementation is impossible without political unification, institutional reform, and urgent action to protect critical infrastructure.
The report highlights several alarming findings:
- The Man‑Made River, Libya’s primary water source, operates at less than half its design capacity due to aging infrastructure, power outages, and repeated attacks.
- Desalination plants produce only 14% of their intended output.
- Over 90% of wastewater is discharged untreated.
- Agriculture consumes 80–85% of water while contributing less than 2% to GDP.
- National water deficit exceeds 4,000 million cubic meters per year.
- Illegal well drilling and unauthorized connections are widespread.
- Climate change is accelerating risks, including salinization, drought, and extreme weather events.
LHRS emphasizes that Libya’s water crisis is fundamentally a governance crisis. Fragmented institutions, weak regulation, and the absence of unified national leadership have allowed the situation to deteriorate to dangerous levels. The organization warns that delays in resolving the political divide pose an existential threat to Libya’s water future.
The report also raises concerns about the human rights implications of water insecurity. Many schools, prisons, and detention centers lack reliable access to safe drinking water. In some facilities, detainees are forced to drink from toilets or rely on sporadic water deliveries. Such conditions constitute clear violations of the right to water and the right to dignity.
Despite these challenges, the NWSS offers a viable path forward. It calls for:
- Establishing a unified Water Board
- Creating an independent regulator
- Reducing consumption to below 150 liters per person per day
- Increasing renewable water sources to 75% of the national mix
- Reducing non‑revenue water to below 25%
- Expanding desalination, wastewater reuse, and aquifer recharge
- Strengthening data systems and monitoring
LHRS supports the NWSS but stresses that technical solutions alone are insufficient. Without political stability, institutional reform, and public participation, the strategy cannot succeed.
The organization issued the following key recommendations:
To Libyan authorities:
Depoliticize water governance, protect the Man‑Made River, enforce groundwater controls, halt illegal urban sprawl, and ensure safe drinking water in all public institutions.
To civil society:
Monitor water access, raise awareness, and advocate for transparency.
To the public:
Reduce consumption, avoid illegal connections, and protect local water assets.
To international partners:
Support implementation of the NWSS through capacity‑building, climate‑resilient infrastructure, and conflict‑sensitive assistance.
LHRS concludes that water security is a national survival issue. Protecting Libya’s water resources is essential not only for development, but for peace, stability, and the fundamental rights of all people living in the country.
Human Rights Solidarity Organization
Tripoli, Libya
June 17, 2026
