2.5 billion people need water!

Recent reports from UNICEF and the WHO indicate that the world has met the Millennium Development Goal target of access to improved water source for more than 88 percent of the world’s population. Between 1990 and 2010, over two billion people gained access to improved water sources, such as piped supplies and protected wells. These statistics are very controversial because of the quality indicators and the difficulties of monitoring, if we look in more detail, we obserbe that the goal is far from being reached. More than two and a half billion people do not have access to improved sanitation, and greater than 800 million do not have a safe source of water. Lack of access to clean water is a personal tragedy that plays out every minute of every day for millions of people.

Every year World Water Day shows the actual aspect of freshwater and this year in 2012, the theme of World Water Day was “Water and Food Security”. Terre des hommes Foundation, Bangladesh, celebrated the “World Water Day” held on 22nd March within its project areas (Kurigram and Barguna) involving the community and in presence of local authorities. Awareness of the importance for freshwater and avocation for sustainable management of fresh water resources was promoted. School children have been involved in games, drawing and other activities related to this topic during the celebration.

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This international day was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

Interested? Read the text from Antoine Delepière, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Person for Terre des hommes