Today

Did you know that today is World Water Day (WWD). It is the starting day for the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life" 2005 - 2015, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/58/217.

It is a call to reach out beyond the community and to link with worldwide efforts of international agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governments and the community-at-large. In order to achieve a common goal: to bring global and local attention and to galvanize action, so that every person on the planet is less vulnerable to water stress, water-related disasters and poor water quality.

Here are some water facts:-

Water and sanitation

1. 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water.
2. 2.2 billion people lack access to improved sanitation (latrines, hand washing, etc.).
3. Safe drinking-water and basic sanitation help prevent water-related disease, including diarrhoeal diseases, schistosomiasis, filariasis, trachoma and helminths.
4. The reliability of drinking-water supplies and improved water management in human settlement areas reduce transmission risks of malaria and dengue fever
   

Water and gender equality

1. Reduced time for health and care-giving burdens from improved water services give women more time for productive endeavors, adult education and leisure.
   

Water and disasters

1. Almost 2 billion people — one-third of humanity — were affected by natural disasters in the last decade of the 20th century.
2. Floods and droughts accounted for 86% of the disasters.