UN World Water Day 2009 and Transboundary Waters
Celebrations on 22 March While Still Millions Face Water Shortages
Mar 18, 2009
Water is the source of life. “By means of water”, says the Koran, “we give life to everything.” People need water just like they need oxygen: without it life would just not exist. The human body is composed by 65% of water.
A person can survive only eight to ten days without water, whereas it takes weeks or even months to die from a lack of food. However water also gives life in a far broader sense. In fact clean water and sanitation allow people to sustain their health and live in dignity.
World Water Day 2009 and Transboundary Water Management
For the first time in 1993, March 22 was first deemed World Water Day by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) to draw attention on the role of freshwater in our lives.
Since then, World Water Day has been celebrated annually to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
Today's reality is harsh. One in eight people in the world don’t have access to safe water. Among these, millions of women and children must spend several hours every day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources, and 2.5 billion people live without a toilet.
This year's focus on transboundary water emphasizes the need to foster the opportunities for cooperation in transboundary water management as a means to help build mutual respect between countries, promote peace, security and sustainable economic growth.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will lead the activities of World Water Day 2009 with the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Ninety events around the world will be held in parallel to celebrate World Water Day 2009 with the focus of drawing attention and increasing awareness on transboundary water (www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/events)
Freshwater Resources and the Right to Life
The total volume of water on Earth is about 1.4 billion km3 (97.5%) of which around 35 million km3 (2.5%) are freshwater resources.Nearly half of the Earth’s land surface is covered by 263 transboundary lakes and river basins which include the territory of 145 countries. Large freshwater reservoirs move below our borders in underground aquifers.
Every country seeks to satisfy its water needs in a world where water resources are, however, limited. The possible risk of transboundary water related conflicts is real. However cooperation should be the keyword for responding to transboundary water management issues.
By the year 2025 about half the world's population - over three billion people - may suffer from water shortages. Commitments must be kept to guarantee that every human can enjoy the most basic of all human rights: the right to life.
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