Emergency water and sanitation systems are increasingly being asked to serve communities for years, and sometimes decades, according to water purification specialist Hydrachem.
The warning comes as World Water Week opens in Stockholm, bringing together governments, water experts, NGOs and businesses to discuss how water systems can become more resilient in a changing world.
For communities living through long-term displacement, Hydrachem says emergency water provision can no longer be treated as a short-term aid measure. Instead, it argues that water resilience in protracted crises should be planned, funded and operated as infrastructure.
UNHCR’s latest Global Trends report shows the continued scale of forced displacement worldwide. While refugee numbers fell slightly in 2025, millions remain displaced by conflict, violence and persecution, with many living in uncertain conditions for years.
“We supply water purification products into places where the emergency phase ended years ago, but the emergency infrastructure never left. Water is still being trucked into settlements that have stood for a decade or more.”
Nicholas Barbieri, Chief Commercial Officer at Hydrachem, said short-term water responses remain vital in the immediate aftermath of a crisis, but become increasingly fragile and costly when displacement becomes prolonged.
“Tankering is the right answer in week one. In year 10, it is expensive, fragile and leaves communities dependent on a supply chain that stops the moment funding moves elsewhere. Long-term displacement is a different problem, and it needs a different answer,” he said.
Long-Term Crises Need Long-Term Water Planning
In Syria, humanitarian needs remain severe despite political changes following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. UNICEF estimates that 15.6 million people in Syria require humanitarian assistance in 2026, including 7.2 million children.
A June 2026 UK Government country note also cites extensive humanitarian needs across Syria, driven by years of conflict, displacement, damaged infrastructure and limited access to basic services.
Yemen’s conflict has continued for more than a decade, while South Sudan has faced repeated instability since independence in 2011. For many communities, disruption to water and sanitation services is not a temporary emergency but a long-term condition.
Hydrachem says this creates a planning gap. Temporary purification units, emergency water tankering and stopgap sanitation may be essential in the first phase of a crisis, but they are often not designed to support communities over many years.
Waterborne Disease Risk Remains High
As crises stretch on, the risk of waterborne disease can return repeatedly to the same communities, particularly where sanitation systems remain weak and funding is inconsistent.
Analysis from the Center for Global Development found that cholera deaths across Africa reached approximately 7,500 in 2025, nearly double the roughly 3,800 deaths recorded in both 2023 and 2024.
The same analysis found that the number of deaths per 1,000 cholera cases increased from around 16 in 2023 and 2024 to 23 in 2025, pointing to worsening outcomes for people affected by outbreaks.
“World Water Week is an important opportunity to recognise the work being done around the world, but it’s also a moment to ask whether we’re building solutions that will still be protecting displaced people five, 10 or 20 years from now.”
Hydrachem is calling for governments, NGOs, donors and water experts to treat long-term water provision in protracted crises as a humanitarian priority in its own right.
The company says this should include investment in durable treatment systems, local operation and maintenance capability, and supply chains designed to support communities for the full duration of a crisis rather than the length of a funding cycle.
Barbieri added: “Long-term water provision has to be treated as a humanitarian priority in its own right, not as whatever is left when the emergency budget runs out.”
FAQs
Why are emergency water systems under pressure in long-term crises?
Many emergency water systems are designed for short-term response, but displacement and conflict can last for years. This means temporary systems may end up serving communities far longer than originally planned.
What is protracted displacement?
Protracted displacement refers to situations where refugees or internally displaced people remain unable to return home or rebuild stable lives for an extended period, often many years.
Why does water resilience matter in humanitarian settings?
Reliable water treatment, sanitation and maintenance reduce the risk of disease, improve public health and make communities less dependent on fragile emergency supply chains.
What is Hydrachem calling for?
Hydrachem is calling for long-term investment in durable water treatment, local maintenance skills and resilient supply chains for communities affected by prolonged crises.
