Access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities is essential for life
However, worldwide, 2.2 billion people do not have safe access to drinking water. Of these, 703 million cannot even meet their basic clean water needs. This means they do not have a water supply in their home and must spend more than half an hour reaching the nearest water source. The already limited water supply will worsen in many regions as a result of the climate crisis, particularly in poorer areas of the Global South.
Furthermore, around 3.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities, such as toilets or washrooms. Around 770 million people still relieve themselves outdoors. This often pollutes rivers or lakes, which are then used as drinking water supplies. Under such conditions, diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea spread quickly. These diseases are particularly life-threatening for children.
Water scarcity poses a particular threat to girls and women
A lack of access to drinking water and sanitation facilities is especially dangerous for girls and women. In around 80% of families without direct access to drinking water, women are responsible for collecting it. These journeys often result in assault and abuse. In addition, many schools lack toilets and menstrual hygiene facilities, meaning many girls regularly miss classes or drop out of school altogether. This means they lose the opportunity for education and a self-determined life.
WASH stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, meaning clean water, safe sanitation and basic hygiene measures. This term is used in humanitarian aid to describe projects that aim to improve access to drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene conditions. These three areas are closely linked and must be considered and implemented together to protect people's long-term health.
What does AWO International do in terms of water and health?
AWO International collaborates with local partner organisations to improve access to clean water, safe sanitation facilities and basic hygiene. In our projects, we promote the following, among other things:
- Construction of safe toilets and washrooms, for example in schools or refugee camps
- Construction or repair of drinking water wells
- Education and awareness-raising measures on hygiene and health care
- Implementation of health check-ups in rural areas – especially for pregnant women and young children
- Distribution of drinking water and hygiene kits after natural disasters such as earthquakes or to people fleeing their homes
Nepal: Hygiene workshops - Girls and women learn more about menstruation in educational programs.
Lebanon: Basic supplies in times of crisis - Our partners provide internally displaced persons with essential supplies. They receive clean drinking water, food, hygiene products, and medical assistance.
Bangladesh: Construction of sanitation facilities – Construction of safe sanitation facilities in cluster villages for climate-displaced families.
Guatemala: Training opportunities for midwives - Continuing medical education for midwives helps reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve basic medical care for children.
Project examples: Water and Health
Forgotten crises: Supporting the Rohingya and host communities in Bangladesh
In August 2017, an outbreak of massive violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state forced the Rohingya, a stateless minority, to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh. More than a million Rohingya refugees still live in camps near Cox's Bazar. The effects of climate change are making conditions on the ground even more difficult - this is where our project with local partner GUK comes in.
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Empowering women and girls in Nepal
AWO International and CEAPRED are improving women's health in Kapilvastu, Nepal, by providing sustainable solutions for nutrition, hygiene, and preventive care, and by combatting undersupply and health risks for women and girls.
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Promoting Health - Empowering Indigenous Women
Climate-related disasters and declining agricultural yields are threatening the nutrition and health of mothers and children in northern Guatemala. Together with our partner organisation ASESCA, we are working to improve health care for pregnant women and young children in the rural regions of Alta and Baja Verapaz.
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