Global Water Crisis
2 billion people around the world lack access to safe water. 1
World Health Organization. (2023, March 22). Our lifetime opportunity to enable water, sanitation and hygiene for all: Joint WHO/UNICEF statement. https://www.who.int/news/item/22-03-2023-our-lifetime-opportunity-to-enable-water-sanitation-and-hygiene-for-all
Collectively, women around the world spend 200 million hours per day walking for water.2
Farley, Malcolm G. “How Long Does It Take to Get Water? For Aysha, Eight Hours a Day.” UNICEF USA, UNICEF USA, 1 Mar. 2018, www.unicefusa.org/stories/how-long-does-it-take-get-water-aysha-eight-hours-day/30776.
443 million school days are missed
every year because of the global
water crisis.3
Prüss-Ustün, A, et al. “Burden of Disease from Inadequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Low- and Middle-Income Settings: a Retrospective Analysis of Data from 145 Countries.” Tropical Medicine & International Health : TM & IH., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24779548.
One person dies every 37 seconds
from water-related illnesses.4
Prüss-Ustün, A, et al. “Burden of Disease from Inadequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Low- and Middle-Income Settings: a Retrospective Analysis of Data from 145 Countries.” Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24779548.
Every $1 invested in safe water
yields $6.80 in economic return.5
Hutton, Guy. “Benefits and Costs of the Water Sanitation and Hygiene Targets for the Post-2015 Development Agenda.” World Health Organization, 2015, https://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/sites/default/files/water_sanitation_assessment_-_hutton.pdf.
50% of the developing world’s
hospital beds are filled with people
suffering from water-related diseases.6
Hutton, Guy. “Global Costs and Benefits of Drinking-Water Supply and Sanitation Interventions to Reach the MDG Target and Universal Coverage.” World Health Organization, WHO and The United Nations Children’s Fund, 2012, www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/2012/globalcosts.pdf.
4.2 billion people lack access
to adequate sanitation.7
“United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and World Health Organization (WHO) launch updated estimates for water, sanitation, and hygiene:” United Nations, 20 June 2019, https://www.unwater.org/who-and-unicef-launch-updated-estimates-for-water-sanitation-and-hygiene/.
Water is the world’s most basic resource.
It has the power to give life – and take it.
But there is hope.
We believe that we can end the global water crisis in our lifetime. With
your help, Water Mission has served more than 8,000,000 people in 60
countries with lasting safe water solutions.
A single mother of six, Hortencia works tirelessly to provide for her family. After helping promote Water Mission’s work in her community, she was thrilled when safe water began to flow! Read how safe water has brought freedom to Hortencia and her family.
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For millions of refugees forced to flee their homes as a result of war, famine, and political unrest, creating new lives in foreign countries can be traumatic and painful. Read how safe water and the love of Jesus are bringing healing to refugee families like Dada Angelo’s.
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Thirteen-year-old Dina enjoys attending school and hopes to become a teacher one day. Sadly, waterborne illnesses and time spent collecting dirty water frequently keep students from their studies. Read how safe water is bringing Dina closer to seeing her dreams become reality!
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Early in the morning, as Segundo tended the family’s crops, his young daughters would make the dangerous trek for dirty water. Segundo’s greatest desire was to see them free of this burden. Read how safe water is helping to give his daughters a brighter future.
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Hayani used to walk nearly three miles to collect water for her family, not knowing that this dirty water was making her young children sick. Now, instead of spending hours collecting water, Hayani has time to joyfully play with her children and watch them grow. Read her story.
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