World Water Crisis (LIFE)

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INVESTMENTS IN DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
PROJECTS AND RELATED RESOURCES ACTIVITIES
REPORT TO CONGRESS
FISCAL YEAR 2006

http://www.ehproject.org/PDF/ehkm/usaid-water_fy2006.pdf

"OVERVIEW
Water is an essential component to human health, food security, economic growth, national and regional political security, and environmental sustainability. However, poor management of water resources, growing world population and increasing demand because of rising prosperity in some regions are causing serious water shortages. More than 1.2 billion people worldwide, and one in every four people in the developing world, currently lack access to a safe water supply; two in every five people have no access to improved sanitation;4 and approximately 450 million people in more than 30 countries face serious shortages of freshwater.5 By 2025, this number is expected to increase to 2.8 billion people in more than 48 countries; 40 of these countries will be either in the Middle East, North Africa, or in sub-Saharan Africa. Competition between some nations in the Middle East for scarce water resources is already emerging as an important issue in regional economic development and political stability. Globally, this competition is being driven by the growing demand for scarce local and regional water resources. This demand tripled during the past century alone and is doubling every twenty years - strongly suggesting that a continued strong commitment to, and substantial investment in, efforts to vigorously address the need for water security and sustainability with equity are required."

3 Currency noted throughout this report is US dollars
4 Defined as a connection to a public sewer or septic system, or access to a pour-flush latrine, simple pit latrine, or ventilated improved pit latrine.
5 See Appendix for improved drinking water and improved sanitation coverage globally

Since the water and wastewater program began, USAID directed over $3 billion to water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Approximately 22 million people benefited from improved water and wastewater systems"








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USAID's Global Health Bureau supports field health programs, advances research and innovation in selected areas relevant to overall Agency health objectives, and transfers new technologies to the field through its own staff work, coordination with other donors, and a portfolio of grants and with an annual budget in fiscal year 2007 of nearly $4.15 billion. Global health issues have global consequences that not only affect the people of developing nations but also directly affect the interests of American citizens
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/#