World Water Day is held each year, on 22nd March, to draw attention to the plight of more than 1 billion people (roughly 20% of the world’s population) who lack access to safe drinking water.
The lack of clean, safe drinking water is estimated to kill almost 4,500 children per day. Out of the 2.2 million deaths from unsafe drinking water in 2004, 90% were children under the age of five.
Crisis is worst in developing countries
The problem isn’t confined to a particular region, a third of the Earth’s population lives in water stressed countries and that number is expected to rise dramatically over the next two decades, but the crisis is worst in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The crisis is created by a combination of factors including climate and geography, lack of water systems and infrastructure, and inadequate sanitation, something that 2.6 billion people (40% of the world’s population) lack access to.
Six miles every day to fetch water
Many women and children in rural areas of Sub-Saharan African and other parts of the world have to walk as much as six miles every day to fetch water for their families, preventing them from pursuing an education or earning an income.
The lack of clean water, coupled with poor sanitation and hygiene education, is one of the greatest obstacles to progress and development in these regions and across the world and condemns billions of people to a life of poverty and disease.
More information
Find out more about World Water Day on the UN Water website and give a gift of water to those less fortunate by making a donation to WaterAid (I’ve been a supporter myself, for many years).
3 comments… read them below or add yours now
Thanks for the info and link to WaterAid! I did a post a while back on SolarAid (http://worththeenergy.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/giving-the-gift-of-light-to-developing-nations-solaraid/), which seems like it is a similar program but with solar power rather than clean water. These programs are so great, and it’s important to get the word out.
@Tom: Welcome to Green Pepper and thanks for sharing the info. Whilst agreeing with the importance of sustainable energy for all people, I do think providing clean and safe drinking water for the millions who don’t have it is a more urgent matter.
@Paul Oh definitely, clean and safe drinking water is a more urgent matter. Being an energy guy myself I had to add the solar power note in :) But yes, I agree, this is a crucial program – didn’t mean to compare them on a level or urgency but rather in ways that we can help developing countries.