One billion of humans do not have access to potable water

Added: (Sun Oct 02 2011)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Globally, one billion humans do not have access to potable water. Due to the population explosion experts estimate that this number could increase immensely until 2012. The main reason for poor access to safe water is the inability to finance and to adequately maintain the necessary infrastructure. Overpopulation and scarcity of water resources are contributing factors.

The lack of water and the lack of hygiene is one of the biggest problems that many poor countries have encountered in progressing their way of living. The problem has reached such endemic proportions that 2.2 million deaths per annum occur from unsanitary water – ninety percent of these are children under the age of five. While the occurrence of waterborne diseases in developed countries is generally low due to a generally good system of water treatment, distribution and monitoring, waterborne diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries and emerging nations.

Diarrhoeal diseases cause ninety percent of all deaths of children under five years old in developing countries. Malnutrition can decrease the children’s resistance to infections, including water-related diarrhoeal diseases. Diarrhoeal diseases, such as cholera, are increasingly becoming the major cause of recurring disease and death throughout the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, warns UNHCO. Statistics show that in 2007 and 2008, around 60 per cent of all requests submitted by National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for allocations from the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), were directly or indirectly related to outbreaks of acute diarrhoeal diseases. This is about 35 per cent more compared to similar statistics in 2006.

“This trend is the combined result of poor hygiene practices, lack of awareness of disease transmission and a shortage of safe water. Poor sanitation linked to unplanned urbanization is also a major factor. This is further complicated by the effects of climate change which have led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of floods and related epidemics”, said UNHCO Special Envoy for Ethopia. Humanitarian efforts have had some impact, but data suggests we may be losing the battle. This is especially true in countries affected by extreme poverty and conflict, where diarrhoeal diseases have become endemic.