CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Undrinkable Water Causes More Victims than Violence

SPAIN, March, 21, 2010.— The consequences related to the consumption of undrinkable water caused more deaths every year in the world than any other form of violence, included war, is the devastating data put out by UN on the occasion of, this Monday, World Water Day, established in 1993.

This year, the United Nations Program for the Environment (UNEP) is emphasizing the importance of the access to quality water by strengthening their efforts in making the citizens, and above all the governments and powerful institutions, conscious of this situation, and have them actively engaged in the fight against pollution, water recycling and water resources recovery.

It is estimated that in the whole world there are still 884 million people who don’t have access to drinkable water, according to the UN. This is a fundamental asset that influences health, the safety and quality of life, especially for children and women. For example, the diseases that are spread by water cause the death of more than 1.5 million children every year.

Once again, it is the Sub-Saharan African region whose inhabitants suffer the worst consequences because of water problems.

LACK OF SANITATION

It is estimated that more than 2,500 million people in the world live without an appropriate system of sanitation. Every day, 2 million tons of residual waters are poured out with no control. The problem is greater in the developing countries, in which more than 90% of raw waste and 70% of non treated industrial waste are poured into superficial waters.

The consequences of climatic change, as well as frequent or extended flooding and drought, and the increase of the sources of pollution will be added to the challenges facing the quality of water. (Cubaminrex – Granma Daily - EUROPA PRESS)

 

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