Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - The 4th World Water Forum has opened in Mexico City and will close on 22 March. An estimated 13,000 people from 120 countries are taking part.
A UN Report on the World’s Water Resources said because of bad management and climate change 1,100 million people have no access to clean water and 2,400 million (almost half the world’s population) have no access to basic medical care.
Only 2% of the world’s water is clean, water resources are limited and unevenly distributed. Water saves more lives that all the hospitals in the world, while dirty water causes 80% of infections in the world.
The most affected area are north and Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. European families consumes 140 litres a day, Sub-Saharan African families 20 litres.
Because of pollution, large rivers in Latin America such as the Paraná, Paraguay, Pilcomayo and part of the Amazon do not guarantee clean water for all the regions. South America has 26% of water and 6% of the population. Asia has 36% for 60% of the population. In India, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Laos and Vietnam bad management and pollution cause a reduction in water supplies and lower quality. Europe, Canada and United states have the best services of drinking water although in Europe 40% is lost during transport.
5% of the world population living in the Middle East and North Africa has access to only 1% of the world’s water. 86% of water in Asia-Pacific region is used in farming, 8% in industry and 6% domestic use. One third of the people in this region, 58% of the world population, have no basic medical care. China, India and Indonesia have half the water in the region.
Africa has access to only 9% of the world’s clean water. In recent years it was affected by one third of the world disasters which affected 135 million people. (AP) (17/3/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe:35; Parole:416)
