The waters of the third pole: Sources of threat, sources of survival

This report intends to open up a dialogue on an issue, it asserts, that could put the lives and livelihoods of millions of people at risk in the foreseeable future. This issue is water – water as a vital resource and as a potential crisis driver in the Hindu-Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. In seeking to foster that dialogue, the report has three specific objectives: [i] to survey various types of potential water-related hazards and crisis drivers that could affect the region; [ii] to foster new types of alliances – including greater attention to what will be called humanitarian policy-maker/science dialogues – for addressing the threats that the region may face; and [iii] to propose first steps that must be taken now to lead to prevention and preparedness measures commensurate with the nature and scale of threats facing the region.

The report provides recommendations intended to suggest ways of strengthening humanitarian crisis prevention and preparedness activities, in a region that may become increasingly vulnerable to large-scale water-related disasters and emergencies.