Beyond the Dry Waterbeds

​Peace is not merely the absence of violence and conflict; it is the presence of resources that ensure a state runs smoothly and people coexist naturally.

​According to the report by the National Drought Management Authority and the World Health Organisation a population of more than 2.1 million is already experiencing a severe wave of drought, peace is being shaken. Borders are being invaded and communities are fighting over territory that has become overpopulated as people migrate to safer areas. They are searching for water to quench their thirst and to sustain their livestock—at least those animals that have survived the looming danger of the drought.

(Courtesy of Facebook)

​Children are skipping school because they are forced to join these migrations in search of food and water. This is a disaster; even the future is being compromised by the current calamity. Meanwhile, farmers are counting their losses as harvests fail. The question remains: what will save a country where political tension is rising in preparation for next year's election?

​The warning signs were there in 2025 when El Niño caused mass destruction. The following season produced almost nothing, and this most recent season, the farms gave up early. Despite rare rains, farmers ploughed and weeded, yet there was no hope—only well-ploughed farms that remain empty.

(Courtesy of Google)

​Existing irrigation schemes are unresponsive. Rice farmers have complained that despite paying their fees, there is still no water reaching their crops. This means more losses and a growing threat of starvation across the country.

(Courtesy of Google)

​The government should have protected the state by investing in agriculture, irrigation schemes, underground tanks, and the planting of adaptive trees early enough to leverage the situation. Instead, very little happened, and we were caught unprepared.

​Peace is further disrupted by a massive rise in crime as people struggle to secure their daily bread. Cattle are being stolen, farms are being invaded, and homesteads are being robbed. Violence has awakened because times are hard, and "bad" no longer looks that bad in the eyes of offenders whose only defence is, "I had no food." Families are being wrecked as domestic violence increases, fueled by unemployment and the rising strain on mental health as the gap for access to provisions widens.

​If a country is to be truly at peace, resources must be made available. Their absence is a direct contribution to instability and the disruption of peace.I hope soon enough the environment heals,the ground regains it shape,the people's hardwork and sacrifice bears fruits and peace returns better and greater.