- Did you know that there are people around the world who do not enjoy the basic privilege of safe water at home?
- March 22 is World Water Day — a day about tackling the global water crisis in households, schools, workplaces and farms.
- Safe water means water that is free from contamination, and available whenever needed.
- The world cannot grow and prosper if there are people without access to safe water.
- When they are forced to use unsafe or contaminated water, they risk contracting deadly diseases.
- The theme this year is ‘Leaving no one behind’.
- Women, children, refugees, and disabled people sometimes face discrimination when they try to access water.
- This is against the basic human justify to water — which entitles everyone to water for drinking, personal sanitation, washing clothes, food preparation, and household hygiene.
- This year’s World Water Day will focus on the reasons why so many people are being left behind.
- 2.1 billion people live without safe water at home.
- More than 700 children under five years of age die every day from diarrhoea linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation.
- Globally, 80% of the people who have to use unsafe and unprotected water sources live in rural areas.
- Around four billion people — that is, nearly two-thirds of the world’s population — experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year.
- 700 million people worldwide could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030.
- For the 68.5 million people who have been forced to flee their homes, accessing safe water services is highly problematic.
