U.S. Water News Online
UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. -- Millions of the world's poorest people survive on less than a fifth of the water they need, the United Nations says. The UN says guaranteeing proper water supplies is vital to eradicating poverty.
It believes the problem is worst in Africa, which also needs huge quantities of water for agriculture. While the world population tripled in the last century, the use of renewable water resources grew six-fold.
The warning comes in a report written by a Dutch adviser to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The adviser, the Prince of Orange, prepared the report, No Water, No Future, for a conference being held this week in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
Annan says: "The world is in a water crisis, with the problem perhaps most acute in Africa. Globally, more than one billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, and half of the world's population lacks adequate sanitation. More than 2m people die annually from water-related diseases."
The UN says the absolute daily minimum amount of water a person needs is 13.2 gallons -- five litres for drinking, 20 for sanitation and hygiene, 15 for bathing and 10 for preparing food.
Millions of people try to exist on 2.6 gallons. They live in Gambia, Haiti, Djibouti, Somalia, Mali, Cambodia, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Albania and Bhutan. In 27 more countries people try to manage on a daily average of eight gallons or less.
The Prince says people need water to grow food as well as for their own use. Agriculture accounts for about 35 percent of Africa's gross national product, 40 percent of its exports, and 70 percent of its employment.
He says, "No single type of intervention has had greater overall impact upon economic development and public health than the provision of safe drinking water and proper sanitation. They can reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of some of the most serious water-related diseases by up to 80 percent."
The Prince says the world must reach three targets:
The Prince hopes one way of helping to reach these goals will be the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), the brainchild of the Organisation of African States (OAU).
Known as "a Marshall Plan for Africa", Nepad aims to commit the continent's leaders to working for development, establishing good governance, and avoiding conflict. Nepad's supporters say a program to promote co-operation among 10 nations in the Nile basin has been producing good results, and could serve as an example to the rest of Africa.
Yet more than 200 million Africans are chronically undernourished, life expectancy is only 54 years, and malaria is now killing 900,000 people annually across the continent.
Return to the U.S. Water News Archives page Or Return to the U.S. Water News Homepage
Editor@uswaternews.com
*Your Name:
*Your Email:
*Friend's Email:
Use a comma to separate e-mail addresses:
*Your Comments:
Hi, I thought you might like to read this article.
*Required Fields