Water and Sanitation

About 14,000 fewer children under age five die each day than did two decades ago, according to a report released Sept. 12 by three United Nations agencies and the World Bank.

The drop -- from 12 million deaths in 1990 to 6.9 million in 2011 -- represents a 41 percent decline in child mortality worldwide and cuts across countries by income level. 

This morning 156,394 pounds of relief supplies headed to Bamako, Mali as part of InterAction members’ ongoing effort to address the crisis in the Sahel. The global logistics company, UPS, coordinated the effort which brought food, shelter, medical supplies and water purification kits to the Sahel.

These water purification kits will help NGOs address the cholera outbreak in Mali. According to an August 14 OCHA report, there are 140 recorded cases of cholera in Mali, with 11 deaths. 

The UN created World Water Day in 1993 to encourage responsible water management and raise awareness about how water affects every day of our lives. Since the world’s population reached 7 billion last year, it is imperative for everyone to have access to clean water for drinking, basic sanitation, and agriculture and food production.  

According to WaterAid America, 11 percent of the world’s population still lack access to water. The UN estimates that agriculture accounts for  85 to 95 percent of all water useage in many developing countries.

African leaders committed to improving water and sanitation conditions this week at the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille, France.