Water is indispensable to so many aspects of our lives: our health, our hygiene, food preparation and our productivity.

Yet still today, approximately 1.2 billion people do not have access to an adequate amount of clean water. Despite advances in technology and international efforts, there has been little or no improvement in the situation over the last twenty years.

For instance, did you know that:
- it is impossible to survive more than 3 days without water?
- Only 1 in 3 people have access to clean drinking water?
- 7 children die from contaminated water-related diseases each minute?
- women in certain countries in Africa and Asia must walk an average of 6 km a day to draw water and can carry up to 20 litres on their heads?

Last year’s heat wave in Europe made us aware of just how much a lack of water can impact our daily lives. We became sensitive to the needs of the most vulnerable with regards to water and sanitation.

Medair created a Water Fund in 2003 in support of the United Nations’ water campaign. This fund, made possible by your donations, enables us to react swiftly and efficiently in an emergency situation. With only CHF 150 000 per year (€100 000), Medair can respond to the needs of crisis victims in three specific areas:

• Hygiene promotion
• Water provision
• Excreta disposal

This special feature will introduce you to Medair’s various Water and Sanitation activities. You won’t want to miss the article on “Jetting”, an innovative technique which enables us to use water to dig wells.

Read on and discover how “together, we can make a difference”.

Link : Official website of the International Year of Water : http://www.wateryear2003.org/