Access to safe drinking water in LEDCs has always been an issue. While some have access to natural water sources such as lakes and rivers, such water sources are often contaminated, naturally or by malpractices, such as industrial waste or inappropriate sewage disposal. The WHO found that nearly 1.1 billion people still lack access to improved water supply sources, and 2.4 billion lack access to improved sanitation. These causes widespread water-borne diseases in those area, causing the deaths of more than 2 million people each year. For many years now, the UN and its member states have actively been seeking ways to address this issue.
In the Millennium Development Goals, the international community has pledged to "Reduce by half, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water"
The UN Water is an umbrella organization that consists of representatives from 26 UNOs, like the FAO, UNDP, UNEP, IFAD, WHO, World Bank , etc. The UN Water serves to strengthen coordination and coherence among the various UNOs. Through UN Water, a common portal is found for exchange of information and knowledge. While not directly involved in implementation process, it has carried out campaigns such as World Water Day, and The Water for Life Decade, 2005 - 2015. The World Water Day this year will fall on 22 March.
While the UN and its member states have been actively addressing the issue, some main problems remains to threaten the issue. Lack of financial aid, lack of sustainable improved water supply and sanitation facilities, and poor hygiene knowledge continues to undermine UN action. With unpredictable challenges such as global warming and population growth, this issue is a tough one to be solved.
This problem is commonly thought be to faced only by the Asian and African regions. However, the Latin American, Caribbean, and European also face similar issue, albeit to less intensity. But more than 100 million Europeans lack access to safe drinking water, reported by the UN back in 2008, especially in Eastern Europe.
When improved water supply is an issue, some interesting ways have been conceived to address the issue. The common one is research for cheaper, better, and portable water filtration systems. One unique one, however is the Play Pump. The PlayPump is an unique pumping system that incoperates play and water supply. To attain clean water that are miles and miles deep under the ground surface, lots of manual energy would have to be employed. This technique creates a roundabout, where children can play while pumping water for their families. Already 1000 of such PlayPump has been built across Africa.
The lack of safe drinking water lead to the the issue of water-borne diseases. Due to the lack of clean water, people often bathe, clean, wash, consume water from the same sources. Contaminated water causes the deaths of millions each year. Rising cost, political instability restricts the ability of the United Nations to solve such issues.
Under this thread, delegates are encouraged to continue discussing and formulating ideas.
In the Millennium Development Goals, the international community has pledged to "Reduce by half, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water"
The UN Water is an umbrella organization that consists of representatives from 26 UNOs, like the FAO, UNDP, UNEP, IFAD, WHO, World Bank , etc. The UN Water serves to strengthen coordination and coherence among the various UNOs. Through UN Water, a common portal is found for exchange of information and knowledge. While not directly involved in implementation process, it has carried out campaigns such as World Water Day, and The Water for Life Decade, 2005 - 2015. The World Water Day this year will fall on 22 March.
While the UN and its member states have been actively addressing the issue, some main problems remains to threaten the issue. Lack of financial aid, lack of sustainable improved water supply and sanitation facilities, and poor hygiene knowledge continues to undermine UN action. With unpredictable challenges such as global warming and population growth, this issue is a tough one to be solved.
This problem is commonly thought be to faced only by the Asian and African regions. However, the Latin American, Caribbean, and European also face similar issue, albeit to less intensity. But more than 100 million Europeans lack access to safe drinking water, reported by the UN back in 2008, especially in Eastern Europe.
When improved water supply is an issue, some interesting ways have been conceived to address the issue. The common one is research for cheaper, better, and portable water filtration systems. One unique one, however is the Play Pump. The PlayPump is an unique pumping system that incoperates play and water supply. To attain clean water that are miles and miles deep under the ground surface, lots of manual energy would have to be employed. This technique creates a roundabout, where children can play while pumping water for their families. Already 1000 of such PlayPump has been built across Africa.
The lack of safe drinking water lead to the the issue of water-borne diseases. Due to the lack of clean water, people often bathe, clean, wash, consume water from the same sources. Contaminated water causes the deaths of millions each year. Rising cost, political instability restricts the ability of the United Nations to solve such issues.
Under this thread, delegates are encouraged to continue discussing and formulating ideas.