Red Cross report: Thousands of children dying from water and sanitation-related diseases everyday

As we mark World Water Day (WWD) today (22 March 2013), shocking figures show that a child dies every 20 seconds from a water and sanitation-related disease, a Red Cross report published today says.

 

According to the charity’s ‘Getting the balance right’ report, a further 2.5 billion people around the world do not have access to basic sanitation facilities; and as a result, the lives of billions of people are adversely affected. The report calls for a global collective effort between governments, the private sector and aid agencies in redressing the balance between water supply and sanitation for vulnerable communities.

 

Since 2005, the Red Cross has provided more than 5 million people with sustainable access to water and sanitation. The Red Cross movement expects to treble this number to reach a total of 15 million people by 2015, a significant contribution to the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals.

 

These projects are part of the charity’s Global Water and Sanitation Initiative (GWSI) which is active in 55 countries worldwide.

 

In Zimbabwe, where the British Red Cross is implementing the GWSI programme, hundreds of toilets have been constructed; and water boreholes dug for communities in Chivi and Mount Darwin districts. There are marked improvements in hygiene practice these areas, with up to 85 per cent of water points and 96 per cent of latrines built between 2005 and 2012, still functional.