What is World Water Day?
World Water Day is observed on March 22nd every year since 1993. It was created by the UN to celebrate water and raise awareness of those living without proper access to safe water.
The theme for World Water Day 2023 is “Accelerating Change,” focusing on theintensifying water shortage and sanitation crisis caused by climate change. The theme emphasizes the urgency to accelerate change to survive the water crisis induced by extreme weather, droughts, and heat waves caused by global warming.
In this post, we will take a look at the seriousness of the issues of water shortage and sanitation crisis.
4 Most Drought-Prone Countries in the World
Water shortage is an issue for various reasons around the world. Let’s take a look at the 4 most drought-prone countries in the world.
#4 Western United States
California and other parts of the western US are experiencing the worst drought in 1,200 years. In order to conserve water for future shortages, dams are being prevented from releasing water. However, this resulted in drying up nearby crops.
#3 Egypt
Ethiopia’s dam construction in the upper Nile River is causing severe drought in Egypt. The dam provides electricity to two-thirds of Ethiopia’s off-grid population. But it means losing 50% of cultivable land in Egypt.
#2 Iraq
Once called the “Venice of the East,” Iraq is one of the fastest drying countries today. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers provide 98% of water resources in Iraq. Turkey built 22 dams at the upstream of these two rivers, and Iraq’s rivers are expected to be completely depleted by 2040.
#1 India
India is severely water-stressed, with 18% of the world’s population surviving on less than 4% of freshwater resources. In 2021, China started building a dam at the upstream of Brahmaputra River, which flows from Tibet to India. This river is one of India’s largest freshwater resources, accounting for 30% of water used. The dam is expected to take away up to 60% of that resource.
Water Sanitation
Sanitation is closely related to the safety of water.
The World Health Organization and UN Water released the Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) in 2022. According to this report, only a quarter of the world’s countries have drinking water management systems that meet international sanitation standards.
And out of the 120 countries reported, only 25% managed it in compliance with WHO standards.
The consequences of contaminated water are dire. More than 829,000 people are dying each year from drinking it and suffering from diarrhea. In 2019, more than 2 billion people were at risk of cholera, dysentery, and typhoid from using contaminated water for drinking.
Poor access to good sanitation and hygiene claims the lives of millions of people every year. Moreover, the management of drinking water sanitation is deteriorating due to the increasing impact of climate change.
Final Thoughts
The global water crisis is a complex issue that requires collective efforts to address. And every little action to save a drop of water can make a difference. With an attitude of service and cooperation, we can all take simple and effective actions to conserve water in our daily lives.
Learn more about water actions What is World Water Day? – Peace Issue – NEWS & INSIGHTS – Sunhak Peace Prize
By working together, we can create a more sustainable future and ensure access to clean water for generations to come.
Learn more about Water Sustainability What is Clean Water and Sanitation? (sunhakpeaceblog.com)
“It is human selfishness that is destroying nature. Human competition for the shortest route to economic success is the reason that the earth’s environment has been damaged. We cannot allow the earth to be damaged any further. We must work quickly to awaken people to the preciousness of nature.”
-from As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen Dr. Sun Myung Moon Co-founder of Sunhak Peace Prize-
