The Dire Consequences of the Global Water Crisis

Water is not only essential to human survival but core to sustainable development. It fuels socio-economic growth, energy and food production and healthy ecosystems. Sanitation and hygiene are as essential as safe water in reducing disease and improving health as well as increasing opportunities for education and economic productivity.

The latest figures published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water, finds 2 billion people (26% of the population) globally do not have safe drinking water, and 3.6 billion (46%) lack access to safely managed sanitation. They show between two and three billion people experiencewater shortagesfor at least one month per year, posing severe risks to livelihoods, food security and access to electricity. With the number of people in need growing and not enough help available, it is incumbent we all become part of the solution.

Contaminated water results in rampant and deadly waterborne diseases in far too many places. Areas without safe water mean families must drink water that is making them sick. Even more do not have access to a toilet or the ability to wash their hands. While the whole community suffers from unsafe water, women and children’s lives are often the most affected. Tragically a child dies every two minutes from a preventable waterborne illness caused by microscopic organisms, like viruses and bacteria ingested through the contaminated water. The fact is if every person had access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene; waterborne diseases would not exist.

In places without asafe water source, women and children are typically responsible for collecting it. It is estimated trips to obtain safe water can take 200 million hours each day globally. By spending a large amount of their day collecting safe water for their families, women are often prevented from working and planning for the future.

When children do not have access to safe water, it cannot only profoundly affect their health but also their educational opportunities. It is estimated 443 million school days are lost each year due to no water at the site. The toll is even worse for girls in schools without water as it means there are no facilities to manage menstrual hygiene.

Additionally almost a third of women globally do not have a safe place to go to the bathroom, which threatens their health and exposes them to shame, fear and in some cases, violence. This too affects productivity and livelihoods.

Lifewater is a Christian, clean water organization; which has been serving families in remote, rural villages with safe water and improved hygiene and sanitation for over 45 years. Our projects are much more than a well. With our help, parents are more productive and able to plan for the future, and children can stay healthy and pursue an education. Visit our website today to make a donation to help save lives one village at a time.

Source:
www.unesco.org/en/articles/imminent-risk-global-water-crisis-warns-un-world-water-development-report-2023#:~:text=Globally%2C%202%20billion%20people%20(26,Water%20Conference%20in%20New%20York.