(Photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0 DEED)

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Mayotte, a French island in the Mozambique Channel, experienced a significant water crisis in 2023. Over the past few years, the island has suffered from severe drought, with this past year marking the worst water shortage in nearly three decades. This crisis prompted government-mandated water restrictions — some still in effect in 2024. 

Climate change, deforestation, and rapid population growth have increased the risk of drought. This, coupled with France’s underinvestment in Mayotte’s water infrastructure, has worsened the situation. With a population of 310,000 inhabitants, over half of whom are under 18 years old, and over 77% living in poverty. The crisis disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable segments of the population, leaving lasting impacts on Mayotte’s economy and environment. 

The French government’s efforts to reduce the effects of water scarcity have been insufficient, relying heavily on short-term measures. The drought in 2023 received little attention from French mainstream media, often overshadowed by far-right discourse on migration. Far-right politicians in the mainland and the island were prompt to blame the incoming flow of migrants from the nearby country of Comoros for the water crisis rather than the lack of effective water infrastructure. As several rainwater reservoirs in Mayotte refilled since January 2024, now is the moment to shed light on an overlooked humanitarian crisis. Similar crises will happen if France does not implement more lasting and concrete measures to increase the island’s water capacity.

The Water Capacity Going Downhill

Mayotte heavily relies on the rainfall season from January to April and has “limited alternative sources.” This seasonal rainfall is expected to fill the two main hillside reservoirs, providing water to 80% of the island for the rest of the year. Yet, during the 2023 rainfall season, the French weather centre noted a decrease of 40% in these reservoirs compared to the January average of previous years. In response to dwindling rain, several municipalities began rationing water. Despite this warning sign, the French government did not take concrete measures to prevent and mitigate the effects of the impending water crisis.

By June, the price of water started to rise slowly, and in July, French authorities decided to freeze bottled water prices until December 2023. August brought severe restrictions on access to water, with some areas experiencing daily scheduled tap water cuts lasting hours, while others got tap water only from 6 pm to 10 am,  followed by two consecutive days without tap water.

On December 5, the water crisis took another dramatic turn when heavy metals were found in the water reservoirs. The contamination was likely due to low water levels in the reservoirs. The authorities banned tap water consumption in parts of Mayotte due to these heavy metals, leaving the people even more thirsty.

Short-Term Bandage Measures

During the autumn of 2023, French government officials visited Mayotte to address rising tensions. Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne promised direct payments of water bills from the government to Mayotte’s water company until the end of 2023. During a visit, Overseas Affairs Minister Philippe Vigier reported 850 leaks in the water system since September.

September saw the government announce free water bottles for Mayotte’s vulnerable groups: people over 65, pregnant women, children under 2, and people with disabilities. By October, the distribution was extended to the whole population, requiring soldiers and firefighters to deliver the water. 

The French government shipped 330,000 litres of bottled water daily until the end of February 2024, posing issues with increasing plastic waste. Plastic consumption reached levels equivalent to three months’ worth of recycling in Mayotte. With only one recycling centre on the island, water bottles in rivers and beaches significantly increased.

These measures worsened existing inequalities as access to distribution was difficult for people living in unstable conditions. Low-income and immigrant communities outside of cities underlined a lack of information regarding where and how to access water; other families highlighted a lack of transportation to water distribution points. Additionally, identity checks were required, raising concerns about excluding those unable to prove residence status, as highlighted by the French Ombudswoman.

The Present and Future Food Crisis

The lack of water also accelerated poverty in Mayotte, stopping agricultural production in some areas. Since the water scarcity hit during the seeding season, the 2023 drought has impacted food availability and biodiversity into 2024. Water scarcity immediately affected breeders who could not give water to their animals, resulting in die-offs and early butchers. Yet, the governmental compensation system, created in February 2024 to alleviate the consequences of the agricultural crisis,  excluded breeders. 

Moreover, over 60% of the population lives on informal cultivation for their consumption. Racha Mousdikoudine, president of the NGO Mayotte is Thirsty, commented, “Our daily routine also means having to give up certain meals” because of the lack of food in the garden and drinkable water to cook.

Children are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition in food crises. They may have to look for water for their families, which is physically demanding. In the meantime, schools had to temporarily close down because they could not provide students with enough water.

Accelerating the Risk of Health Crisis

The water crisis also exposed the population to significant health risks due to “inadequate hydration and compromised hygiene practices.” Mousdikoudine testified that despite water cut-off schedules, “[they] live among [their] excrement [because] there are times when [they] can’t flush the toilet.”

Poor sanitation can lead to the spread of waterborne diseases, including cholera and typhoid fever. In September 2023, many reported stomach aches and a recent report revealed increased sales of antidiarrheals and consultations for skin inflammations in the past year. Consequently, Spring 2024 saw an increase in dengue fever cases and a rapid spread of cholera, worsened by Mayotte’s poor drinking water standards.

The discovery of heavy metals in the water reservoirs in December 2023 also poses a major threat to humans and the environment. Consuming contaminated water can result in a wide range of issues like neurological problems and skin infections. Besides, heavy metals “do not degrade in the environment and can build up in living tissue,” creating both short-term and long-term pollution risks.

The Status Quo of the Insufficient Water Infrastructure

For two decades now, the French government has promised the creation of a third water reservoir to meet the island’s growing needs. In 2024, construction has yet to start as most of the land is privately owned. Several media outlets denounced the “failure of public authorities to act on the ghostly third reservoir” amid accusations of authorities’ corruption and blackmailing for expropriation. The reservoir, expected by 2030, now leaves the population at risk of repeated drought. 

The French accounting court also highlighted several suspicious matters regarding water governance in Mayotte in 2018 and 2021. The authorities suspected the former president of the water and sanitation organization of “favouritism, […] embezzlement of public funds, active and passive corruption and misuse of corporate assets.”

The French Overseas Minister announced an investment of €8 million for a water purification system to be ready by May 2024. However, the project was stopped due to high costs, leaving an empty promise to Mayotte. In contrast, the French government allocated €200 million to buy the wine surplus in production and face the decreasing demand — an expensive action compared to Mayotte’s urgent need for water. 

#MayotteIsThirsty

Amidst corruption and faulty infrastructure, a protest movement emerged amidst the 2023 water crisis called “Mayotte is Thirsty.” The hashtag trended on social media with videos and pictures of muddy water from taps. The president of the NGO Mayotte is Thirsty, Racha Mousdikoudine, demanded solid measures to reduce the water crisis and called for accountability by taking Mayotte’s water company and the French government to court. 

Those seeking legal action recognize the water crisis as discriminatory compared to mainland water access, threatening islanders’ human rights. They have demanded continued payment of the water bills and bottled water distribution as clean tap water is absent. On December 8, 2023, the tribunal ruled that the water company must repay the plaintiffs’ bills but dismissed the case against the French government.

The Right to Water Everywhere

The need for investments in water infrastructure in Mayotte is stronger than ever. Since January 2024, Mayotte’s two main reservoirs have refilled to 80% and 100% of their capacity. Yet, in February, water cuts were still scheduled once every three days, so it will take time before everything returns to normal. In any case, Mayotte’s water company director even declared that the normal maximum production of drinkable water on the island is below the estimated demand for water for the population. The French Overseas Minister promised 75 million euros for finding and repairing leaks in the water system.

Water scarcity and unsafe drinking water are not unique to just Mayotte. In March 2024, the United Nations reported similar issues in other French overseas territories, including water shortages in Guadeloupe and Martinique and contamination in La Réunion and French Guiana.

The 2023 water crisis was a wake-up call, but failed investment promises and corruption are nothing new. Without any long-term investment, sustainable agricultural policies, and solid support from the French government, the water crisis in Mayotte will repeat itself with worsening social, economic, and health impacts amid climate change.

Edited by Melanie Miles