2013-the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2013 as the United Nations
International Year of Water Cooperation. As the
global demand for water rises fast, the objective of this International
Year is to raise the awareness about the importance of water to human
well-being and sustainable development.
Water is the basic necessity to sustain life. The accessibility and quality of water
resources are fundamental to human health. However, today around 900 million
people still lack access to clean water supplies. Furthermore, as population grows, water as a
resource will become scarcer in the future. Many people around the world suffer not only
from the scarcity of water, but also from diseases caused by unsafe drinking
water and poor sanitation. More than 80% of diseases like diarrhea or dysentery
are the result of contaminated water. Water-borne diseases is the second
leading cause of child death.
The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 7C states :”Halve the proportion
of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic
sanitation”. Access to water and
sanitation is also declared as a human
right. Securing the access to clean water is critical in helping to achieve other MDGs on reducing
the poverty, achieving child and
maternal health, reducing child
mortality. The adequate supply of clean water could stop the spread of dangerous
water-borne diseases and significantly improve public health and human
well-being.
Nepal is one of the Asian countries with the highest level of water
resources. However, the country faces serious problems related to water
management. Only 10% of the country’s groundwater potential is utilized and for
many families the adequate supply of water is out of reach. Rural areas are
often remote from water supplies and only 31 % of Nepal has sanitation
coverage. According to government statistics, more than 4.4 million people in
Nepal do not have regular access to safe drinking water. The pollution of flowing streams with waste is
also high. Furthermore, in some places arsenic occurs naturally in ground
waters and causes a contamination problem. There is no simple solution for the
problems mentioned above. The active involvement of international organizations,
NGOs and the government are crucial for providing clean and safe water to the
population. There are some NGOs working to provide safe water and improved
sanitation in Nepal like WaterAid, the World Water Organization, Nepal Water for
Health. However, still lots should be
done to ensure that all people in Nepal and
in many other regions of the world have access to safe water and water-related
services.
In 2013 the UN will organize a large number of seminars, workshops and other events
related to water education, water diplomacy, cooperation in providing safe and
clean water. Hopefully, these messages will reach policy-makers and others in
power. Providing adequate access to safe water is one of the most important
development goals and it should be a priority for the governments and
international organizations.
Resources:
Joint G8 Science Academies’ Statement on Water and Health,
Dr. Suresh Das Shreshtha, “Water Crisis in the Nepal Himalayas”
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