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Watsan (Water and Sanitation)
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 Organization. |
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
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. |
