Water Facts

More children under the age of 5 die from water pollution than anything else in the world. This is because their immune systems are not properly developed and they’re particularly vulnerable to water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera and bilharsia.

• Water is the biggest killer of children under the age of 5
• 1.8 million children die every year - 1 child will die every 17 seconds
• 5000 children will die today
• 1.1 billion people in the world do not have access to safe water, this is roughly one sixth of the worlds population
• 2.6 billion people don’t have access to adequate sanitation - two fifths of the world’s population
• Just £1 can deliver fresh water to a child for nearly 10 years
• Water-related disease is the second biggest killer of children worldwide, after acute respiratory infections like tuberculosis.
• The simple act of washing hands with soap and water can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by over 40%.
• The weight of water that women in Africa and Asia carry on their heads is commonly 20kg, the same as the average UK airport luggage allowance.

Just a Drop has raised over £850,000 and supported over 800,000 people in 28  countries around the world. Access to water supply and sanitation is a fundamental need and a human right. It is vital for the dignity and health of all people.

In the time it has taken you to read this page, 9 people have died from water borne illnesses 5 OF THEM….. CHILDREN

But,
Improved water quality reduces child diarrhoea by 15-20%
Hand washing and safe food handling reduces it by 35% 
Safe disposal of children's faeces reduces it by nearly 40%

To help stop this Global Water Crisis please help us to help them.

more information can be found in Water Facts 2008