Water For Life

The Problem

The Solution

Water Facts

Sudan Appeal

Bangladesh Programme

The Problems

• For some parts of the world the problem is scarcity of water, while in others water is plentiful but of poor quality.


• Inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene not only cause sickness and death, they also increase health costs, reduce people's ability to earn a living and reduce school enrolement rates.

Did you know?

• Nearly 2.4 billion people in the world do not have access to clean water or adequate sanitation (around 40% of the world’s population).


• Water-related diseases account for 2.2 million deaths each year, mostly among children under the age of five.


• The average distance that women in Africa and Asia walk is 6km to collect water carrying up to 20kg.


• Around 6,000 children die every day from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.


• In 1998, 308,000 people died from war in Africa, but more than 2,000,000 (six times as many) died of diarrhoeal disease.


• 88% of diarrhoeal disease is attributed to unsafe water supply, inadequate sanitation and hygiene.