WASHINGTON–In recognition of World Water Week (March 22-28), Water Advocates calls for the funding and implementation of more safe drinking water and sanitation projects in developing countries.
While important work has been done, there remains an acute need to ratchet-up actions by governments, corporations, foundations, the media, and the civic and faith-based communities in order to meet the global challenge.
‘Each day 4,500 children die around the world due to mostly preventable water and sanitation- related diseases,’ said David Douglas, president of Water Advocates.
‘That’s about 135,000 lives per month-a small city’s worth of children- an ongoing disaster by anyone’s standards.’
The good news is something can be done.
Numerous organizations have experience implementing sustainable water and sanitation projects. They utilize sustainable, appropriate technologies and engage the local communities in their efforts.
For example, this year alone hundreds of thousands of children have gained access to latrines, a place to wash their hands and clean drinking water at their schools through the help of these organizations. These non-profit groups have been quietly working for years on this issue–under the radar–saving and improving the lives of the world’s poorest citizens.
‘What is needed is more financial support, public awareness and political will,’ Douglas said.
‘We encourage U.S. citizens to support sustainable drinking water and sanitation projects through their own religious or civic organizations, or through nonprofit organizations working to implement effective projects in this field.’
This World Water Day, Water Advocates is circulating a list of U.S. organizations that are helping to implement safe drinking water and sanitation projects in developing countries.
‘We encourage the media to publish this list in the same way it publishes similar lists during a natural disaster-to allow the U.S. public to involve itself in addressing this silent, ongoing disaster.’
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