Civil war's impact on the environment and on access to water and sanitation services: the case of Colombia

Civil wars may result in deteriorated environmental conditions, and, in turn, may reduce the quantity and quality of water available to households. This paper explores the impacts of the Colombian civil war on access to water and sanitation services, using a theoretical household model in which civil war enters as a tax on the household income and on the prices of goods. The paper takes a unique approach by exploring how different levels of conflict intensity impact the probability of curtailing access to water and sanitation services. Empirical results suggest that civil war reduces access to water and sanitation services and deteriorates children's health. However, households adapt by internalizing the conflict intensity experienced.