Global Inequalities-Access to Water

Global Inequality-Access to Water

The global inequality I have selected is Access to Water. In the world there are over 460 million people who suffer from serious shortages of water and over 1.2 billion people still do not have access to safe drinking water. The majority of these people live in extreme poverty in developing countries, with the rural areas of poor countries being most affected.

Water is essential for the health and survival of human life. It is used for agriculture, industry and energy and domestic purposes.

Water is also the cause of many serious health problems. Statistics indicate that 80 percent of all sickness and disease throughout the world is related, in some way, to water. It may be diseases such as typhoid, cholera and giardia that spread through water, or it could be through disease caused by a lack of water such as scabies, dysenteries and trachoma. Many of these diseases can be fatal if left untreated. This is often the case in many developing countries which do not have the funds or resources to supply antibiotics and other medications to sufferers. As a result, water-related diseases lead to the death of 3.1 million adults and children each year.

To many people from wealthy countries take clean water for granted and commonly use it for watering the garden, washing the dog and flushing the toilet

It seems so easily available that many people from developed countries could be mistaken for thinking that an abundance of clean water can be accessed by any person from around the world.

Statistics have shown that 85 percent of the world's supply of water is used by only 12 percent of world's population and that they do not live in developing countries. This occurs in many developing areas around the world, such as in countries in Africa, where there is not only a severe lack of clean drinking water but freshwater in general is rapidly declining. Although Africa has some of the largest lakes in the world it also has the Sahara, the largest desert in the world. A lack of clean water is a major inconvenience, especially for some women and girls in Africa who have to walk almost ten kilometres to fetch water.

In Africa, urban slums are considered to have worse living conditions than slums in rural areas.This is due to Africa having been commonly known to have little or no access to clean water and sanitation, as well as being isolated from vital services such as hospitals. In The problem of urban slums in developing regions such as Africa is not unlikely to be resolved in the near future, unless action is taken. It is predicted that the number of Africans living in city areas will increase from the current 37 percent to 53 percent by 2030.

With limited access to clean water, a growing community, lack of education and a harsh dry environment, Africa faces a bleak future. It is important that World Health organisations monitor and assist these areas otherwise lack of access to water will result in high rates of sickness and death.

In 1981, the United Nations established the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade, during which they intended to achieve basic sanitary facilities and an adequate quality and quantity of water for every person in the world. The goal was not reached, but the issue of water has stayed on the international agenda. In 2000, the UN Millennium Declaration was agreed upon by 191 nations. One of its  goals was to achieve environmental sustainability, including reducing the number of people without access to safe drinking water by half by the year 2015.

It is acknowledge the terrible reality that by the year 2025, as much as two-thirds of the world’s population will be living with some serious condition of water shortage or in absolute water scarcity. 

The good news is that, according to the World Health Organisation, since 1990, around 2 billion people have gained access to an improved, sustainable source of water.

However, around 800 million people still live without safe drinking water.

Since 2009, World Vision Australia has managed 114 water, sanitation and hygiene projects across 35 countries with an investment of $US52 million.

Today World Vision is the largest NGO (Non-Government Organisation) provider of these programs in the world.

By improving access to safe water, and providing improved sanitation and hygiene education in targeted communities, as well as promoting multiple-user water systems, World Vision expects to see significant changes over a five-year period, including:

                 §  Significant reduction in child deaths;

§  Increase in school attendance, as safe water, latrines, and hand-washing stations become more accessible to children at school;

§  Increased incomes through water-related, income-generating activities.

How Individuals can take Action

I believe that the human race has taken water for granted and massively misjudged the capacity of the earth’s water systems to sustain our demands upon it. The supply of available fresh water is finite and represents less than half of one percent of the world’s total water stock. 31 countries are facing water stress and scarcity and over a billion people lack adequate access to clean drinking water

Many individuals from wealthier countries feel that they cannot do anything to help people in developing countries. There are, however, a number of ways that people from wealthy countries can help those in poorer countries. It is often difficult for individuals to find a way to help so there are many non-profit programmes in operation which are designed to involve people of all ages to assist in reducing the level of inequality around the world. World Vision, Amnesty International, The Red Cross and CARE are all popular international humanitarian organisations which rely on the support of individuals, businesses and organisations to help communities in the developing world.

The Australian branch of World Vision was established in 1966. World Vision Australia is the nation's largest humanitarian and overseas aid organisation. Its aim is to not only provide aid in emergency situations but also to help local communities by working on long-term development projects.

There are numerous ways in which individuals can make a difference. For those who are unable to give monetary donations, the volunteering of their time is equally valuable. World Vision encourages individuals who feel strongly about particular issues to take action. They suggest doing things such as writing a letter to a local newspaper or meeting with a local Member of Parliament to help keep the focus on the crisis facing the world with water inequality.