Today is World Water Day! Did you try the water challenge? How's it going? I've not been the best but just being involved and attempting has made me more aware of how fortunate I am to have access to safe, clean water. Some facts...
3.575 million people die each year from water-related disease.
43% of water-related deaths are due to diarrhea.
84% of water-related deaths are in children ages 0 - 14.
98% of water-related deaths occur in the developing world.
884 million people, lack access to safe water supplies, approximately one in eight people.
The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.
At any given time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease.
Less than 1% of the world's fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use.
An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the typical person living in a developing country slum uses in a whole day.
Without food a person can live for weeks, but without water you can expect to live only a few days.
The daily requirement for sanitation, bathing, and cooking needs, as well as for assuring survival, is about 13.2 gallons per person.
Water projects in developing countries fail at an average rate of 50% or higher.
Only 62% of the world's population has access to improved sanitation - defined as a sanitation facility that ensures hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact.
2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, including 1.2 billion people who have no facilities at all.
At any one time, more than half of the poor in the developing world are ill from causes related to hygiene, sanitation and water supply.
Every 15 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease.
Children in poor environments often carry 1,000 parasitic worms in their bodies at any time.
What can we do? Research - there are quite a few organizations on a mission to end the water crisis. Interested in a specific country? Email some local groups there and donate. Pray. Join the water challenge. For more water info, visit Blood: Water Mission's website.
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2 comments:
Wonderful post! I don't think most people realize what a terrible situation so much of the world is in without clean water.
The statistics are breathtaking! The water challenge has been such a great experience. Although I haven't done the best I do have to say that it is an eye opener to see just how much I do take water for granted. Thanks so much for introducing me to the challenge!!
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