Unsafe drinking water brings death to millions annually - UN
Chief
UN: Every twenty seconds a child dies as a result of the abysmal
sanitation conditions endured by some 2.6 billion people globally.
That adds upto an unconscionable 1.5 million young lives cut short by
a course we know well how to prevent, observes UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-Moon, in his message on World Water Day which falls today.
His message: “This year, World Water Day coincides with the
International Year of Sanitation, challenging us to spur action on a
crisis affecting more than one out of three people on the planet.”
“Poor sanitation combines with a lack of safe drinking water and
inadequate hygiene to contribute to the terrible global death toll.
Those who survive face diminished chances of living a healthy and
productive existence. Children, especially girls, are forced to stay out
of school, while hygiene-related diseases keep adults from engaging in
productive work.”
“Leaders who adopted the Millennium Development Goals in 2000
envisioned having the proportion of people living without access to
basic sanitation by the year 2015 - but we are nowhere near on pace to
achieve that Goal. Experts predict that, by 2015, 2.1 billion people
will still lack basic sanitation. At the present rate, sub-Saharan
Africa will not reach the target until 2076.”
“While there have been advances, progress is hampered by population
growth, widespread poverty, insufficient investments to address the
problem and the biggest culprit: a lack of political will.”
“With the right resolve, there are many steps that members of the
international community can take. The Commission on Sustainable
Development in 2005 outlined a series of measures aimed at securing
meaningful progress, holding Governments of affected countries primarily
responsible. It also called for international support through a
conducive policy environment, financial resources and the transfer of
technology to countries in need.”
“If we take up the challenge, the positive impact will reverberate
far beyond better access to clean water. Every dollar invested in water
and sanitation yields an estimated seven dollars worth of productive
activity. And that comes on top of the immeasurable gains in cutting
poverty, improving health and raising living standards.”
“World Water Day offers a chance to spotlight these issues, but this
year, let us go beyond raising awareness - let us press for action to
make a measurable difference in people’s lives.” - UNIC
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