Exercise 6b, page 49.0:00
Although 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, only 1% of the world's fresh water is accessible to the 7 billion people on the planet.0:05
In regions such as Africa, the problem is extremely severe.0:15
Aid worker Alex Cameron is here to tell us about the importance of safe drinking water for everyone.0:20
I think the problem of water shortages is one that even people in Britain can relate to.0:26
Many people have had to endure host pipe bans during their summer and learned to be more efficient with water to keep their beloved gardens alive.0:31
But here we take it for granted that our water is completely safe to drink.0:39
This isn't the case for millions and millions of people in Africa.0:44
Can you tell us about some of the problems this causes?0:47
First and foremost is, of course, the potential for disease.0:51
Lack of clean water results in deadly diseases such as cholera and typhoid amongst many others.0:55
And dirty water causes ordinary childhood diarrhea, which is one of the main causes of death among African children.1:01
Poor African children are 10 times more likely to die before they are five than a child from a developed country.1:08
Most of these deaths can be prevented simply by providing clean water and making sure that people know how to maintain good standards of hygiene.1:15
What other difficulties do water shortages lead to?1:23
As water supplies become harder to find in times of drought, the people in the countryside have to spend increasing amounts of time searching for it.1:26
They can spend up to eight hours a day collecting just enough water for the bare essentials, leaving very little time to look after their farms and families.1:35
This often forces people to move to the cities, and many traditional communities are losing their way of life.1:45
Are the conditions any better in the cities?1:52
A little, but not much.1:54
In urban areas, about 50% of the water supply is wasted due to poor management.1:57
The water pipes in cities are very old and constantly leak, and people don't use the water they have efficiently.2:02
Also, as the populations in cities rise, there is more and more pressure on the water system.2:10
Hygiene and sanitation standards are very low and so more people become ill.2:16
It sounds like a very complicated problem.2:20
It is, and it's not getting any better either.2:23
Although governments work hard towards providing safe and sustainable water supplies, the money needed to ensure this is just not available.2:27
Companies don't want to invest in something that doesn't make a lot of profit.2:36
So the number of people with no access to safe water is bound to rise.2:40
So if is the situation hopeless?2:44
Many aid and development agencies are doing a great deal to tackle the problem.2:49
They work directly with the affected communities to develop sustainable water supplies.2:53
Not only do we help to provide working wells, but we give people in the community training in efficient use of water resources.2:59
Is there anything that ordinary people can do to help?3:06
First, you can help by making more people aware of the water problems Africa faces.3:11
The more people know about the devastation unsafe water causes, the more likely world governments will be to act.3:16
You could also do some fundraising in your community or even make a personal donation, however small.3:23
Every little bit helps to build more wells.3:29
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