ROME, ITALY— World Water Day has been observed since March 22, 1992 when the United Nations General Assembly declared that day for World Day for Water. This day promotes international recognition of the necessity of fresh clean water everywhere. Every year, people worldwide participate in events and programs to raise public awareness about what many believe to be the world’s most serious health issue—unsafe and inadequate water supplies—and to promote the conservation and development of global water resources.
This year's theme for World Water Day explores the relationship between water and food security.It will be coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, based in Rome. The visual identity and communication campaign is by UN-Water. On the occasion of 2012 World Water Day, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other organizations are calling attention to the water-related challenges faced by civilians caught up in fighting.
Worldwide, it's estimated that more than 780 million people don't have access to clean water while around 2.5 billion don't have a toilet or other area to get rid of waste. The ICRC and other noted speakers and organizational representatives will lead discussions on the importance of ground-level cooperation and communication in coming up with practical solutions, especially in conflict-affected areas, where protracted or intense fighting, political wrangling and embargoes can leave communities without decent access to water and sanitation for weeks, years or even decades. The ICRC, which carries out water, sanitation and construction projects for more than 20 million people in 48 conflict-affected countries worldwide, firmly believes that local cooperation, dialogue and innovation hold the keys to addressing some of these complex humanitarian challenges.
"We're seeing some worrying 'cause and effect' trends leading to increased vulnerability and violence," said the ICRC’s regional water and habitat adviser for the Middle East, Michael Talhami. "The highly inequitable distribution of resources, widespread environmental and natural resource sustainability issues, a lack of cooperation between authorities, rapid population growth, and climate change are all factors that contribute to greater competition for scarce resources, hindered economic growth, a rise in forced migration and increased tensions."
Water is everybody's business. As the 2012 World Water Day is marked, all citizens should emphasize the vital role that this life-sustaining resource has on the world’s food security. One should ask themselves to think about how much water they consume every day, and how, at all steps along the supply chain, actions can be taken to save water and ensure food for all. By doing so, major metropolitan areas and the remotest of villages can be guaranteed the availability of this essential resource in the face of the world’s rapidly rising population and evolving demands of the various sectors of society.
