Hydrachem Calls for Long-Term Water Resilience in Protracted Crises
Event summary
- Seven in 10 refugees worldwide are now living in long-term displacement, according to UNHCR.
- Hydrachem urges governments, NGOs, and donors to fund water provision built for the full duration of a crisis, not just its first phase.
- Cholera killed an estimated 7,500 people across Africa in 2025, with the proportion of cases ending in death rising from 16 to 23 per 1,000.
- Hydrachem argues for treating long-term water resilience as a distinct planning challenge, not an extension of emergency response.
The big picture
Hydrachem's call for long-term water resilience highlights a critical gap in current humanitarian aid strategies. As protracted crises become more common, the need for durable infrastructure and sustainable solutions is growing. The company's push for a shift from short-term response to long-term resilience could reshape how aid is funded and delivered in conflict zones and displaced communities.
What we're watching
- Funding Shifts
- Whether governments and NGOs will reallocate funding from short-term emergency responses to long-term water resilience projects.
- Infrastructure Development
- The pace at which durable water treatment solutions and local operating capabilities are developed and deployed in protracted crisis zones.
- Supply Chain Reliability
- How reliable supply chains can be maintained for the length of a crisis rather than just the length of a funding cycle.