Tearfund Joins Call to End Water Poverty

Christian relief and development agency Tearfund is one of many organisations which launched End Water Poverty last Thursday. The international campaign will tackle the global crisis in sanitation and water.

Campaigners are frustrated that, although water-related diseases are the second biggest killer of children under five-years-old in the world today, water and sanitation are still not prioritised in the fight against poverty.

Organisations from all over the world, literally from Timbuktu to Edinburgh, have pledged to do their bit to end water poverty.

Matthew Frost, Chief Executive of Tearfund, said: "It is scandalous that half the hospital beds in the world are filled with people suffering from water-borne diseases. Progress on health and education and ultimately eradicating poverty will be stalled unless world leaders commit to urgent action on water and sanitation. We're pleased to be supporting End Water Poverty."

End Water Poverty is calling for one global action plan for sanitation and water monitored by one global task force, 70 per cent of aid money for sanitation and water to be targeted at the poorest countries, and water resources to be protected and shared equitably.

Kadiatou Aw, WaterAid Mali: "It's wonderful to see all these voices united in their calls to end water poverty. In Mali we find it frustrating that water and sanitation aren't given the attention they deserve.

"If 5,000 children were dying every day in the developed world, world leaders would debate it at breakfast and the problem would be solved before they sat down to lunch.

"All it takes to tackle this crisis is public pressure and the right political will. That is why we in Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world, are supporting the End Water Poverty campaign."

The End Water Poverty campaign is calling on Germany as the host nation for this year's G8 meeting, to commit to a global action plan for sanitation and water to deliver safe water and effective sanitation to those most in need - "the poorest of the poor," they said.

The campaigners criticised Tony Blair and Gordon Brown for continuing to make bold commitments and delivering passionate speeches on health and education in developing countries "without acknowledging the role that sanitation and water plays in poverty eradication".

The UK Government's approach to international development must include a global action plan for water and sanitation alongside these other essential public services, they said.

"If the UK Government is serious about international development then the Prime Minister must take the global crisis in water and sanitation to the G8 summit in June, put it on the table and demand action, because for every minute of inaction four children die, every minute of every day," Tearfund said.

To find out more about what's going on on World Water Day, visit www.endwaterpoverty.org