Position Paper Example for Model United Nations

POSITION PAPER

Committee       : United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS)

Country            : Republic of Cuba

Topic                 : Human Security through Inclusive Socio-Economic Development

Sub Topic         : Water Scarcity

Water scarcity is a phenomenon where the lack of available safe and clean water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region. It could mean the scarcity in availability because of physical shortage, or scarcity in access due to institution’s failure to ensure a regular supply because of the lack of infrastructure. Until this day, more than 1 billion people from the developing countries don’t have access to it. Some of their freshwater resources are shrinking at an alarming rate. This problem will become more challenging as the world’s population continues to grow and the need for clean water for daily needs also increases. Lack of clean water supplies could lead to numerous waterborne disease and failure in agriculture, causing death, famine, and hamper the community development.

In Cuba, water scarcity becomes a daily struggle. The capital city Havana and other regions suffered from lack of sufficient infrastructure and low water quality-treatment. Proper maintenances are a challenge due to low income and inadequate budgets for operations. More than 80% of the infrastructure like pipes and water tube is almost half-century years old and frequently leaks which causes water loss. Some area like Havana had limited water service and the residents only had access for one hour each day. Many families started storing water in every container they could find, that could lead to the possibility of water contamination because of improper storage system. This condition is worsened in the past few years due to drought and the recent natural disasters. Thousands of homes, infrastructures, and water cisterns are destroyed. Many who lost their home struggled to access clean water and sanitation. There are 3,100,000 people in total who had problems with water supply.

The government and officials of Cuba has provided water rationing using truck water-tanks throughout its urban areas. Besides the water rationing, Cuba with the funding from the European Union have partnered with the World Food Program, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Mivimiento Por La Paz to run a project with two goals: strengthening the preparation plans and drought early warning systems, and repairing the hydrological network systems to increase the water supply. The OPEC Fund for International Development also has signed US$10 million loan agreement with the Cuba’s government to help finance a water supply and sanitation project in the capital city Havana. The project will comprise rehabilitation of sanitation infrastructure and installation of 260 km long of pipes to connect houses.

The issue of water scarcity requires a solution that could be implemented effectively and sustainably. Therefore, Republic of Cuba proposes a few solutions, which are:

1. Establishing community based Municipalities Water Management Agency for each municipality as a private company that the community itself is also act as the shareholder.

2. The water management agency will taking responsibility for building dams and water reservoirs, water infrastructures maintenances, water distribution systems, and handling the wastewater managements. This agency would be responsible for making sure every family in each Cuba’s municipalities get a clean and regular supply of water for agriculture activities and daily needs. Local communities will be involved to ensure the availability of human resources for the agency. Municipalities Water Management Agency is a long term and sustainable plan for water security in Cuba.

3. Funding resources for establishing Municipalities Water Management Agency are from National Annual Budgeting Plan Cuba and municipality community trust fund. Other available funding are from United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) and collaboration with UNDP and the government, will costing for several technical assistance such as human resources training, and funding expenses for a project of slow-sand filters system installation in houses as a way to reduce the possibility of water contamination and waterborne disease. Slow-sand filters would act as a simple and easy purifying water system in each family house which does not require a lot of energy and costs.

By applying these solutions, we believe the Sustainable Development Goal number 6 which says "ensuring the availability and management of sustainable water and sanitation for all" will be able to be achieved.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Water Scarcity & the Importance of Water, link source: https://thewaterproject.org/water-scarcity/

Water Scarcity, link source: https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/scarcity/

Water Scarcity is one of the Greatest Challenges of Our Time, link source: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/03/water-scarcity-one-of-the-greatest-challenges-of-our-time/

Waiting for Water, link source: http://cubaoutsidein.com/environment/waiting-for-water/

Cuba and the Hurricanes of the Caribbean, link source: https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/cuba-and-the-hurricanes-of-the-caribbean

Water Supply in Cuba, link source: https://borgenproject.org/water-supply-in-cuba/

‘IT’S LIKE A MOVIE’ Cuba tornado – 3 dead and 174 injured after Havana hit by monster storm ‘devastating’ the city with severe winds and heavy rain, link source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8294435/cuba-tornado-havana-hit-storm-winds-rain-devastation/

OPEC Fund extends US$10 million loan to Cuba for water supply and sanitation scheme, link source: http://www.ofid.org/NewsEvents/ArticleId/377/OPEC-Fund-extends-US-10-million-loan-to-Cuba-for-water-supply-and-sanitation-scheme

Havana’s Wastewater Treatment Plants: Changes over Time and Estimate of Replacement Cost, link source: https://www.ascecuba.org/asce_proceedings/havanas-wastewater-treatment-plants-changes-over-time-and-estimate-of-replacement-cost/

Coping with water crisis in Cuba, link source: https://www.idrc.ca/en/stories/coping-water-crisis-cuba

Supporting Cuba through the Drought of the Century, link source: https://ec.europa.eu/echo/field-blogs/stories/supporting-cuba-through-drought-century_en

Between Drought and Floods, Cuba Seeks to Improve Water Management, link source:  http://www.ipsnews.net/2018/09/drought-floods-cuba-seeks-improve-water-management/

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, link source: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-6-clean-water-and-sanitation.html

Slow Sand Filtration, link source: http://oasisdesign.net/water/treatment/slowsandfilter.htm