FOCUS ON WATER

FOCUS ON WATER

There is currently enough water for the needs of all of the world’s 6.5 billion people. But because of a series of factors including burgeoning populations, the uneven geographical spread of water resources, wars and poverty, an estimated 6.5 billion persons still have no access to clean drinking water or adequate sanitation. Several million persons die annually from water-related diseases, including 3,900 children each day.

With the global population set to increase to 9 billion by 2050 with subsequent increased demands for drinking water, agriculture, industry and energy the crisis appears set to become even worse.

However, the international community including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is increasing its efforts to tackle the problem. JICA’s projects are global and encompass a series of different approaches ranging from raising educational awareness of water issues, teaching management, administrative and water engineering skills, building simple village water pumps in African villages or sophisticated filtration systems in cities to improving irrigation and agricultural systems, reducing the impact of climate change and improving health facilities and the expertise of nurses and volunteers to reduce widespread waterborne and other diseases.

Source: JICA