March 22, 2012
Worldwide, approximately 884 million people live without safe water, leading to compromised health, loss of productivity, and absence from school.
Food cannot grow without water, so effective water resources management is a fundamental part of the global effort to improve food security. Millions of people around the world struggle with increasingly scarce water resources.
The challenge we face is ensuring a productive use of water and wastewater, maintain appropriate water quality for food production and drinking, and recognize the vital links between water, energy, and food security.
Earlier this month, UNICEF and the WHO reported that the world met the Millennium Development Goal on water. Over the last two decades, over 2 billion people gained access to clean water, reducing the proportion of people suffering without clean water by one-half.
To promote human health and well-being, we will continue improving access to and sustainable management of clean water resources.
Beverley J. Oda
Minister of International Cooperation
