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Helping the forgotton children of Ghana, West Africa

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Helping the forgotten orphan children of Ghana

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Washington (CNN) -- Nearly a billion people worldwide have limited access to clean water, the State Department says, and the crisis disproportionately affects women and girls.

"On average, women in developing countries walk 6 kilometers a day to collect water" because there is not enough of it nearby, Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero told CNN.

The chore keeps girls out of school and women from more productive economic activities, Otero said.

Otero spoke at a Washington, D.C., event Wednesday organized to bring awareness to the issue.

Several hundred people gathered outside the State Department for the "Earth Day 6K Walk for Water," a 3.5-mile walk around the city to support the many women who have to carry containers on long treks every day to fetch water for their families. Nearly 1 billion people in the developing world walk on average 3.5 miles to get water to drink.

The United Nations' refugee agency estimates that more than half of the world's refugee camps don't have the recommended minimum daily water requirement of 20 liters per person, and about 30% of camps don't have adequate waste disposal and latrine facilities, according to its website.

Elynn Walter, the sustainability director with the Washington-based WASH Advocacy Initiative, which works to raise and funds and awareness to address the problem, said women in many developing countries are expected to supply water while men tend to other chores.

Walter stood before two large containers called jerry cans commonly used in third-world countries to carry water collected from far-away locations. When filled, she said the cans weigh a hefty 55 pounds.

"They often put it on their shoulder and carry it above their head," Walter told CNN.

Rachel Schneller, a foreign service officer who lived for two years in Mali in the mid-1990s as a Peace Corps volunteer, said she joined the walk to raise awareness about the problem. She lived in a village in a nut hut in Mali, with a grass roof, no running water and no electricity. She said she carried her water in a jerry can.

"When you need that water to do everything from washing your body, brushing your teeth, cooking your meals, washing your clothes, water for bathing ... you count every single drop, Schneller said. "You realize how important water is, especially if you're the one that has to go collect it and bring it back-- every single drop."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has elevated water to one of her key issues, providing $770 million through USAID in 2009 toward increasing access to water and sanitation, particularly for people living in developing countries.

Otero said water problems are not limited to the third world, however. Every region of the world is affected, including the United States, especially in the Southwest.

Water scarcity has even become a security consideration, she said.

"Wars can start, conflict can start, tension can happen, and being able to help countries manage this and address it in a collaborative way is part of our effort in working this," Otero said.
CNN's Jill Dougherty contributed to this report.

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For nearly a billion people, a glass of water means miles to walk

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Washington (CNN) -- Nearly a billion people worldwide have limited access to clean water, the State Department says, and the crisis disproportionately affects women and girls. "On average, women in developing countries walk 6 kilometers a day to collect water" because there is not enough of it nearby, Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero told CNN.

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Visit today to view articles and releases, and browse our recent press coverage.

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We are working to bring clean water, sanitation and hygiene programs to remote communities in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Washington (CNN) -- Nearly a billion people worldwide have limited access to clean water, the State Department says, and the crisis disproportionately affects women and girls.

"On average, women in developing countries walk 6 kilometers a day to collect water" because there is not enough of it nearby, Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero told CNN.

The chore keeps girls out of school and women from more productive economic activities, Otero said.

Otero spoke at a Washington, D.C., event Wednesday organized to bring awareness to the issue.

Several hundred people gathered outside the State Department for the "Earth Day 6K Walk for Water," a 3.5-mile walk around the city to support the many women who have to carry containers on long treks every day to fetch water for their families. Nearly 1 billion people in the developing world walk on average 3.5 miles to get water to drink.

The United Nations' refugee agency estimates that more than half of the world's refugee camps don't have the recommended minimum daily water requirement of 20 liters per person, and about 30% of camps don't have adequate waste disposal and latrine facilities, according to its website.

Elynn Walter, the sustainability director with the Washington-based WASH Advocacy Initiative, which works to raise and funds and awareness to address the problem, said women in many developing countries are expected to supply water while men tend to other chores.

Walter stood before two large containers called jerry cans commonly used in third-world countries to carry water collected from far-away locations. When filled, she said the cans weigh a hefty 55 pounds.

"They often put it on their shoulder and carry it above their head," Walter told CNN.

Rachel Schneller, a foreign service officer who lived for two years in Mali in the mid-1990s as a Peace Corps volunteer, said she joined the walk to raise awareness about the problem. She lived in a village in a nut hut in Mali, with a grass roof, no running water and no electricity. She said she carried her water in a jerry can.

"When you need that water to do everything from washing your body, brushing your teeth, cooking your meals, washing your clothes, water for bathing ... you count every single drop, Schneller said. "You realize how important water is, especially if you're the one that has to go collect it and bring it back-- every single drop."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has elevated water to one of her key issues, providing $770 million through USAID in 2009 toward increasing access to water and sanitation, particularly for people living in developing countries.

Otero said water problems are not limited to the third world, however. Every region of the world is affected, including the United States, especially in the Southwest.

Water scarcity has even become a security consideration, she said.

"Wars can start, conflict can start, tension can happen, and being able to help countries manage this and address it in a collaborative way is part of our effort in working this," Otero said.
CNN's Jill Dougherty contributed to this report.

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For nearly a billion people, a glass of water means miles to walk

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Washington (CNN) -- Nearly a billion people worldwide have limited access to clean water, the State Department says, and the crisis disproportionately affects women and girls. "On average, women in developing countries walk 6 kilometers a day to collect water" because there is not enough of it nearby, Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero told CNN.

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Stories of People We Empower | Water.org

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Water.org and our partners have worked to bring water & sanitation solutions to families around the world. Read their personal stories today.

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In Africa, there is a young girl named Christina. She lives with her family in a small village in rural Ghana in West Africa. Ghana is close the equator with a tropical climate, but each year over eight months may pass without a drop of rain. During these dry spells, the one small pond in her village will slowly evaporate in the hot sun. Villagers are forced to seek water elsewhere. It is Christina's job to fetch her family's daily ration of water. Each day, she will walk up to four hours to gather enough water. Christina is a hardworking girl, but because she walks so far for water means she has no time to attend school. Christina is a real girl, and this is a true story as told in the short film below by Water Aid. Water Aid is an international organization with a vision of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Intrigued? Read more about water in Africa below.

Desert, rainforest, and savanna - over 900 million people live in Africa. It is the second largest continent in the world. Of all who live in Africa, 340 million people (38%) lack access to clean water and 500 million people (56 %) lack access to sanitation facilities.

If you lived in Africa, you would have to walk an average of six kilometers (3.72 miles) to carry sometimes dirty or murky water home to your family for use. The burden of this chore often falls on the women and children of a household.

The Nile, Niger, Volta, and Zambezi River Basins cross multiple political borders making water policy difficult and even volatile according to research conducted by the UN as featured on the BBC.

Above Photo: Water availability in Africa. UNEP/GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics Library

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In Africa, there is a young girl named Christina. She lives with her family in a small village in rural Ghana in West Africa. Ghana is close the equator with a tropical climate, but each year over eight months may pass without a drop of rain.