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Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)

Though 98% of the available freshwater in the world is groundwater, groundwater resources are not easily available in much of the world where subsurface water is the only option. In sub-Saharan Africa, conditions are particularly dire as 58% of the population is rural, and 90% of that rural population is dependent on agriculture. The increasing frequency and severity of droughts in East Africa and Southern Africa have further exacerbated the reliance of rural populations on groundwater. Today, more than 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live in water insecurity, meaning that they lack reasonable access to either sufficient quantities of water or to water of acceptable quality. For rural populations, a direct consequence of water insecurity is food insecurity. In the Horn of Africa alone, more than 60% of the population is food insecure, with more than 20 million people currently approaching famine conditions.

Geophysics and Geology,    Ecosystems, Environment and Sustainable Development