FOR 1 BILLION PEOPLE
Safe Water is Scarce
The Water Crisis
Clean, safe drinking water is scarce. Today, nearly 1 billion people in the developing world don't have access to it. Yet, we take it for granted, we waste it, and we even pay too much to drink it from little plastic bottles.
WATER SCARCITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER
In places like sub-Saharan Africa, time lost gathering water and suffering from water-borne diseases is limiting people's true potential,
especially women and girls.
1/3
of all schools lack access to basic access to water and sanitation.
The average distance women and girls carry their water (5 gallons equals 40 pounds = HEAVY) in Africa and Asia is 3.5 miles. Women spend several hours every day collecting water.
Women, girls and
Water
Women spend 200 million hours collecting water.
Women are disproportionately affected by the water crisis, as they are often responsible for collecting water.
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1 in 4 girls does not finish elementary school vs. 1 in 7 boys, which leads to 2/3 of all illiterate adults being women. Lack of proper facilities also leads to much higher risk of rape.
References
UN Water. (2018). UN water-facts
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