ProfMark Zeitoun Quoted in The Lancet on Water Infrastructure and Armed Conflict
The Lancet has cited Prof. Mark Zeitoun, Director General of the Geneva Water Hub, in its latest World Report titled “The Weaponisation of Water”, published on 22 May 2025.
The article explores the growing trend of water infrastructure being deliberately targeted during armed conflicts in regions such as Gaza, Syria, and Ukraine. It outlines the public health consequences of these attacks and the ways in which they undermine access to essential services. The use of water as a means of warfare is framed within broader legal and humanitarian concerns.
Prof. Zeitoun’s contribution, drawn from remarks delivered during a March briefing at the Geneva Graduate Institute, is highlighted in the article:
“The damage to water infrastructure doesn’t get the headlines. What people don’t realise until it’s pointed out is that it’s so directly linked with people’s lives and dignity, as much as hospitals are.”
The article also raises key issues related to accountability and the application of international humanitarian law in the context of these attacks.