posted 03-23-2002 11:22 PM            

1.1 billion people have no access to water: UN
Updated on 2002-03-23 12:33:25


ISLAMABAD, March 23 (PNS): On the eve of World Water Day, United Nations Friday said that about 1.1 billion people have no access to pure water while over 5 million people die each year from water related diseases, 10 times the number killed in war.

"An estimated 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, 2.5 billion people have no access to proper sanitation, and more than 5 million people die each year from water related diseases, said United Nations development Program resident representative Onder Yucer in a press conference.

By 2025, about 5 billion people will be living in areas where it will be difficult to meet all their needs for fresh water and half of them would face severe shortage of water, he said.

He quoted Secretary General United Nations Kofi Annan as saying, "fierce national competition over water resources has prompted fears that water issues contain the seed of violent conflict."

"But the water problems facing our world need not be only a cause of tension, they can also be a catalyst for co-operation."

UNIC Director Eric Falt at the occasion, "less than 3 percent of water on earth is fresh and most of it is in polar ice or too deep underground to reach."

The amount of fresh water that is accessible is in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, which is less than a quarter of one percent of the total. He said, "Agriculture consumes about 70 percent of the world's available water."

He said that the key for countries of the region is to cope with the crisis will be to develop improved management of water.

Scientists are making great efforts to assess the threats and are hopeful to bring a much-needed blue revolution in agricultural productivity, Onder said.

Chief Planning Commission Pakistan Naseer Ahmad Gilani said that Pakistan is facing enormous water shortage and it is consuming more water. About 97 percent of the water is being used for agriculture.

He said, "all UN agencies are providing support to Pakistan in this regard and the need of the hour is to properly use the available water."

Additional secretary S Ibrahim Shah said that agriculture is the mainstay of Pakistan and the production suffered last year due to shortage of water.

"We have to shift from sugarcane and rice to other crops, as these need more water." He reiterated that water should be properly used and should be preserved from going into the sea, adding, "140 million acres feet water is wasted in a year here in Pakistan."

UN is working in Pakistan to provide pure water and improve sanitation both in urban and rural areas, UN representative said and added, "UN is helping experiments locally that how water can be obtained."