In the Global Water Crisis, Facts Are Crucial. What Are the Highlights?
In the global water crisis, facts speak volumes. They show us the need to track our progress in the fight to make clean water available to all. Here are some highlights in this statistical area:
The World Health Organization says that 2 billion people use a drinking water source that is contaminated with feces.[1]
Contaminated water can transmit diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and dysentery. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says an estimated 446,000 children younger than 5 years old die every year from diarrhea, mostly in developing countries.[2]
The World Health Organization states that 2.3 billion people lack basic hygiene services, including soap and water at home. This includes 670 million people with no handwashing facilities at all.[3]
During the years 2015 and 2020, 107 million people gained access to safely managed drinking water at home. During that time, 115 million people obtained toilets at home.[4]
What can be done to continue this progress? GFA World founder, K.P. Yohannan (Metropolitan Yohan), said,
“We attack the water crisis globally by installation of wells in a village or BioSand filters in homes. We did a study in our medical camps and found the No. 1 issue for children in South Asia was either diarrhea or upper respiratory infections. Our ultimate goal to give kids an education so they can get a better job is compromised if they’re sick.”[5]
A better future is possible as organizations, governments and for-profit businesses work diligently to find solutions for the water crisis. Some are working on the desalination efforts while others are focused on well technology or making filters more effective. There are numerous strategies and campaigns seeking to tackle this world crisis and provide safe water solutions.
GFA World is working through local churches, pastors and missionaries in parts of Africa and in Asia to bring lasting solutions to hurting communities and families. Whether it is drilling a deep water well or providing an individual family with a BioSand filter, progress is being made in this critical area of clean water solutions.
Since water comprises about 60 percent of every human body,[6] it’s essential to our wellbeing. A lack of clean water impacts every imaginable area of life. In fact, every human must consume a certain amount of water in order to survive! Will you join with us as we provide this essential resource?
Learn more about the Africa water crisis[1] “Drinking Water.” World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water. March 21, 2022.
[2] “Fast Facts.” CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/wash_statistics.html. Accessed November 26, 2022.
[3] “Progress on Household Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.” World Health Organization. https://washdata.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/jmp-2021-wash-households.pdf. 2021.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Walker, Ken. “Water Stress: The Unspoken Global Crisis.” GFA Special Report. https://www.gfa.org/special-report/dying-of-thirst-global-water-crisis/#water-stress. March 4, 2022.
[6] “The Water in You: Water and the Human Body.” USGS. https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-you-water-and-human-body#overview. May 22, 2019.