Africa’s Water Crisis and the Impact it has on the Children

Growing statistics on the water crisis is alarming as 40% of the world’s population is affected by water scarcity. UNICEF says this includes 450 million children who are vulnerable due to an inadequate supply of safe water. A variety of factors are responsible including mismanagement of resources and climate change. Data shows since 2000, the frequency of droughts and their duration have increased by nearly a third as well as epic floods that have caused great damage and hardships.

In Africa, the most severely impacted by the water crisis are children. The Lancet Journal’s publication of Feb, 2023, reports, “Intensifying drought in the Horn of Africa throughout 2022 doubled the number of children facing severe thirst, hunger, and disease—from 10 million to 20·2 million—between July and December.” It states the drought has created a re-emergence of cholera and acute watery diarrhea in several countries including Ethiopia, with mortality rates for children at their highest peak in a decade. Current statistics find 7 million children under the age of 5 remain malnourished and in need of urgent nutrition support and over 1.9 million children are at risk of dying from severe malnutrition.

Flooding can be especially catastrophic in areas with prolonged droughts. Ethiopia is one example where flooding in drought areas caused widespread destruction and displacement. Moreover the rise in the number of cases of cholera is now among one of the longest outbreaks recorded in the country’s history. UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Mohamed Fall, explains the crisis in the Horn of Africa has been devastating for children. He states, “This crisis has deprived children of the essentials of childhood – having enough to eat, a home, safe water, and going to school.” Many children and their families must leave their homes in search of water after their livestock die and crops dry up.

Even though the rains have brought some relief in terms of water, it will still take time for communities to recover, and many will require help to get back on their feet. One of the biggest challenges is that too many of the countries involved do not have the financial and human resources to implement WASH (water and sanitation and hygiene) practices, and children continue to be at risk for preventable illnesses and deaths.

At Lifewater International, we are committed to providing for those most in need – especially the children. Our work includes Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Cambodia. All of these countries suffer from lack of safe drinking water and lack of access to sanitation and hygiene. Each of our projects includes not only providing safe water but serving schools, households, and villages with every aspect of WASH.

Help us bring safe water to families in need. Join us by making a one-time donation or become an Overflow member and make a monthly donation that will impact a child’s life each month with safe water, improved health, and the love of Christ

“World Water Day” Puts a Spotlight on the Global Water Crisis

The “World Water Day” in March highlights the critical water crisis affecting 771 million people globally who live without basic access to safe water, and the many more who lack access to toilets. At Lifewater International, a Christian water charity, we have been working for 45 years to provide the world’s most marginalized communities solutions. 

In 2016 Lifewater reimagined our process for serving with the introduction of “Vision of a Healthy Village,” which focuses on sustainable solutions to empower people from within the community to create thriving villages and enact lasting change. Along with our safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) work; we partner with local ministries to start bible studies, plant churches and distribute bibles. 

Unafraid of a challenge, we seek out countries and regions that are underserved and unreached by other organizations; and currently our focus is Sub-Saharan Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania) and Southeast Asia (Cambodia). In Ethiopia alone, half of the population (58 million) lacks access to safe water that sickens children with diseases entirely preventable. Diarrheal disease, a leading cause of death for children under five years old, is nearly eliminated by drinking safe water and practicing proper sanitation and hygiene. From 2016 to August 2022; we have brought renewed hope and safe water to more than 395 villages and 198,000 people in remote areas like Bensa, Nensebo, Kokosa, and Dodola with the support of generous donors like you.  

In Uganda, 40 percent of the population must make more than a 30-minute roundtrip to get safe drinking water, and over 75 percent of the country doesn’t have the resources to properly wash their hands, which makes it challenging to control the spread of disease. The health of Cambodia’s children is also at risk as 28 percent of people lack access to safe water, and 1 in 5 do not have access to a toilet or the means to wash their hands with soap and water. 

In 2020, Lifewater International expanded its program to Tanzania where statistics are just as dire with 23 million people lacking access to safe water or basic sanitation. Data from 2016 reports “over 18,500 children younger than five years old die annually due to diarrhea resulting from contaminated water and hygiene practices.” Our current projects are located in the Shinyanga District.

Since the start of Vision of a Healthy Village, donations to Lifewater has allowed us to provide 340,000 people with clean water and improved health, transforming villages and schools for good. However there is more work to be done as many of our projects still need funding. 

Access to safe water keeps children healthy and keeps them in school. It also gives women the time to pursue educational and economic opportunities. Our website has a list of unfunded water projects in need of help as well as inspiring stories of success. We are confident Lifewater’s work will have life-sustaining impact, and with your help, we will provide brighter futures.