New research by WaterAid reveals that urban areas, home to over half of the global population, are experiencing intensified climate changes, leading to unusual patterns of rainfall and drought. Many cities, previously known for flooding, are now facing severe drought conditions, while traditionally dry areas are encountering unexpected flooding. This shift poses significant challenges as outdated infrastructure must adapt to the new realities of climate whiplash, where cities see sudden swings between wet and dry conditions, jeopardizing sanitation and drinking water safety.
"I assumed dry places were getting drier and wet places wetter, but the most surprising thing to me was that many cities are experiencing a complete change in what they were used to managing," Katherine Nightingale, WaterAid's global international affairs director, told DW.
"Infrastructure that was designed and built at a time when these were dry cities are now having to deal with this idea that these are now flood-prone cities," Nightingale said.
"Droughts dry up water sources, while floods destroy toilets and sanitation systems and contaminate drinking water," Nightingale said.
Ninety percent of climate disasters are water-related, such as floods and droughts, putting millions of people at risk.
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