The silent emergency

[Dreamer128]

Health statistics show that on average a child dies every 15 seconds from water-related diseases somewhere in the world. This dire situation has been labelled by aid agencies `the silent emergency´.

While clean water and good sanitation are taken for granted in developed countries, for billions these basic elements of a decent life are lacking.

It´s estimated that 40 percent of the world´s population - 2.6 billion people - do not have access to basic sanitation, and one billion are using unsafe water. As a result, around 6000 children die every day. Why is the scale of this problem so enormous and why is so little done to tackle it?

Vanessa Tobin, Chief of the Water, Environment and Sanitation Programme with UNICEF, and Jose Hueb from the World Health Organisation's Sanitation and Health Programme joined Amsterdam Forum host Andy Clark this week.

Andy Clark: "Five million people die each year from water related diseases, that's ten times the amount killed in wars, so why isn't this a burning issue commanding the same sort of international effort that we've seen in the fight against terrorism, for example?"

Vanessa Tobin: "It's something that's taken so for granted in the rich developed countries that it's hard to generate the global attention to something this basic and simple – but more lives are being ruined by this unreported crisis than in Darfur and Iraq put together."

"From the UN we're advocating very strongly for the increased efforts that are going to be needed by countries to meet this enormous challenge."

Estimates show that to halve the number of people without access to clean water and adequate sanitation by the year 2015 – a target set in the UN's Millennium Development goals – it would cost 12 billion euros.

This is less than the amount spent in the US and Europe on pet food each year.

But it is doubtful that this money will be forthcoming, and although the target of halving the number of people without access to clean water may well be met, the target on adequate sanitation will be missed.

And without adequate sanitation the health catastrophe will go on.

"We have four billion cases of diarrhoea each year which is effecting considerably economic growth, which is causing some 1.8 million deaths, most of these deaths in children below five years of age – the burden on health is huge and something has to be done here," said Jose Hueb.

Investing money in solving the problem also makes economic sense, according to the World Health Organisation representative.

"If you invest one US dollar in water supply and sanitation you are going to have a recovery of three to 34 US dollars – the relationship is huge. It's worthwhile investing in water supply, it's worthwhile investing in sanitation," Mr Hueb said.
Andy Clark: "So why isn't the money forthcoming?"

Jose Hueb: "That's a good question, we have as the UN, being trying insistently to call the attention of decision makers on a worldwide basis to the importance of improving access to water supply and sanitation, to the health and economic benefits. But it seems the results are not as good as we wanted."

"Clearly there is a lot that needs to be done if we want to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. They will be met for water supply but very clearly not for sanitation if business as usual continues as projected until 2015."

Vanessa Tobin: "Deaths of children are just the tip of the iceberg. For every child that dies many more are left sick or debilitated as a result and that vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition obviously has an overall impact on a child. If children in Africa are suffering from five to six episodes of diarrhoea each year the impact of that is extremely significant . . . Ability to learn at school is severely effected by disease and malnutrition as a result of water related diseases," she added.

Both experts agreed the targets could be met if the political will is in place.

"With commitment, with determination and with resources which could be made available internationally, it could be possible to meet the targets, if we do this the battle against all kinds of diseases will be won. If all of us, I'm talking about the international organizations, I'm talking about bilateral organizations and particularly the countries themselves, work together these targets can be achieved," Mr Hueb said.

(Radio Netherlands)

[Aerich]

Water will be the next big crisis, along with energy when oil and gas reserves run out.

If we're talking about African crises and political will, I'm doubting the situation will change soon. I see African governments spending too much time and money fighting.

And realistically, making changes to the water supply won't make everything all better. Not without an AIDS vaccine.

[Timber Loftis]

We are not far off from wars being fought over water. You may note that clean drinking water is already more expensive than gasoline. We will certainly run out of water before we run out of oil.

TL the price of bottled water has nothing to do with it's scarcity or the cost to package it...it has everything to do with "Whatever the Market will bear". The real kicker is that some of those expensive bottled brands of water are just regular city tap water repackaged.

[JrKASperov]

Harvest and filter rain. There's your water.

[Timber Loftis]

Oh, of course. Um... unless there's no rain. Or filters.

[Aerich]

Water's a bit of a crisis point in Canada right now. Lots of discussion over whether we should be selling it to the States... and what our chances are of being invaded for our water. Fear mongers, but it may come to that eventually.

Aerich, I have hatched a plan to steal the Canadian Halves of the Great Lakes

[Sir Kenyth]

The biggest problem in developing areas is ignorance. All micro-organism related disease problems with water can be avoided by heating or boiling the water first. You would be astounded by the number of people in developing nations that still believe in magic and shamanism. They simply don't understand or believe what causes disease and won't take any sanitary precautions in food prep or drinking water.

[Timber Loftis]

Some shortcomings in your criticism, Sir K:

1. *Should* it be the standard of living and of clean water that as long as you can boil it, I can continue to soil it?

2. Now, let's look to the countries you are discussing, the ones where water is a real problem and where the developmental level is "developing." In almost all of these countries, the primary heat source is fire and the primary fuel source is wood or coal. Health and environmental problems both come into play here. As an extreme example, we'll take Haiti, which is 90% deforested and where most women die early because they stand all day over a wooden cookfire, inhaling the smoke. Note that children have a high rate of cancer and emphyzema, because they are cradled in the mother's arms all day, sharing all that cook smoke with mommy.

So, does the ecosystem (trees) and the health of the women in Haiti have the resource ability to undertake this additional burden of boiling every drop of water? I'm dubious.