Around 5,000 children die every day from diseases caught by drinking dirty water
Water facts
Clean drinking water. Could you live without it? What about a basic toilet? What if there was none available?
This is the reality facing our world – a reality brought to light by these remarkable facts:
Water
884 million people around the world don’t have access to clean drinking water. According to WHO/UNICEF.
In rural Africa, women and children walk an average of 4 miles per day for water. According to the Water Information Program.
Around 4,000 children die every day from diseases caught by drinking dirty water. According to End Water Poverty.
In Africa, an estimated 5% of GDP (Gross domestic product) is lost to illnesses and deaths caused by dirty water and the absence of sanitation. According to End Water Poverty.
Women and children in Africa have to carry up to 20kg of water on their head – the equivalent of the average check-in luggage limit for an airline. According to Water Aid.
Sanitation & Hygiene
2.5 billion people around the world don’t have access to a purpose-built toilet. According to Water Aid.
About 90% of sewage in developing countries is discharged into water courses without treatment, often polluting the usable water supply. According to UN Water for Life.
The simple act of washing hands can reduce diarrhoea by over 40%. According to Water Aid.
