Water
is the basic liquid of life. However, over one billion
people worldwide have no access to safe drinking water, and almost
half the world's population lack adequate sanitation.
This affects their health, their environment, their basic dignity and their children's future. For some countries the problem is scarcity of water, while in others water may be plentiful but of poor quality.
Health
Around 80% of all sickness and disease in the world is caused
by inadequate water or sanitation, according to the World Health
Organisation. Water-related diseases account for 2.2 million deaths
each year, mostly among children under the age of five.
Poverty
Inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene not only cause sickness
and death, but also increase health costs, reduce people's ability
to earn a living, and reduce school enrolment rates, especially
for girls. Shortages in water can lead to harvest failures and
even famine. All these factors combine together to contribute
to the continuing cycle of poverty in developing countries.
Women and Children
The
poorest and most vulnerable people are worst affected by this
problem. In most societies women and children bear the responsibility
for fetching water for the family a time-consuming, and physically
demanding duty. Women in Africa and Asia, on average, have to
walk 6km a day just to get water.