2.4 Billion people lack access to safe water and sanitation, it is clear that the water crisis is a health crisis. Nearly 1 million people die each year from water, sanitation and hygiene-related diseases which could be reduced with access to safe water or sanitation.
For children under five, water and sanitation related diseases are one of the leading causes of death. Every day, over 800 children die from preventable diseases caused by scarcity of water, and a lack of sanitation and hygiene.
During the Covid-19 pandemic we realized how sanitation and hygiene are key to both preventing and managing the outbreak of deadly infectious diseases.
Cleaning hands can reduce the transmission and help people stay healthy. However, billions of people still don’t have access to safe water and other sanitation tools. On top of this, funding is inadequate.
How can we prevent the spread of mortal diseases in the near future if so many people lack “the weapons” to contain the spread of any disease?
Unfortunately we can’t.
The timely and sufficient availability of water of adequate quality is a prerequisite for tackling possible impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.
Availability to clean water plays a fundamental role also in the economic downturn, food and energy insecurity, and poverty. Access to financing could solve the water crisis for millions.
Small, affordable loans can enable families to purchase safe water and sanitation solutions to deal with their immediate need, and in the long run it will help communities at risk to overturn the economic impact of NOT having access to clean water.
Water.org believes that access to capital is the most important barrier to overcome in order to solve the global water crisis. To ensure universal access to safe water and sanitation, a radical increase in global financing is required, three times the current investment. Bridging the financing gap and delivering safe and affordable access to water and sanitation will depend on smart and efficient approaches.
The topic for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. So, why Olivella has decided to donate to Water.org? Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable. However we today more than ever know that Water, its usage, and the sustainable practice linked to this scarce resource is the key to solve present and future problems that affect our world.
The first Earth Day in 1970 launched a wave of actions, including the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States. The Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts were created in response to the first Earth Day in 1970, as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many countries soon adopted similar laws.
At Olivella we believe Earth Day 2020 should have a special focus on sanitation, hygiene, and clean water solutions.
Sources:
https://www.unwater.org/coronavirus-global-health-emergency/
https://www.unicef.org/documents/wash-programme-contribution-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-prevention-and-response
https://water.org/our-impact/water-crisis/
