Which of the following is NOT a component of a watershed approach to water supply in emergencies?

• A. Protect source areas
• B. Manage catchment
• C. Involve communities
• D. Provide food aid to affected populations

Answer: (D)

In a watershed approach to water supply in emergencies, the focus is on managing the land and water within a catchment to ensure clean and reliable sources. Protecting source areas helps keep upstream water free from pollution and sediment. Managing the catchment involves land and soil management to sustain water quantity and quality, such as erosion control and vegetation cover. Involving communities ensures local buy-in, governance, and maintenance of water resources.

Providing food aid, while essential in emergencies, does not address how the watershed’s water sources are protected or how the catchment is managed, nor does it involve community governance over water resources. It is a food security intervention rather than a water-resource management component.