World Water Day statement by World Vision UK
- As the largest non-governmental supplier of clean water in low-income countries, World Vision is calling for urgent action this World Water Day to protect children around the world.
- 2 billion people are still set to live without safely managed drinking water by 2030
- The achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are at risk
- World Vision raises importance of clean water projects in light of recent UK Foreign Aid Cuts.
Thursday, 20 March 2025
Whether because of conflict in places like Syria and Sudan, or climate-caused water-shortages in Ethiopia and Malawi, access to clean water is still an issue for millions of children living in the world’s hardest places. This is why we must not neglect the physical water needs of so many this World Water Day and beyond.
At the current rate, due to increases in climate-factors and conflict, and reductions to humanitarian aid from governments around the world, World Vision is warning that the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals will not be met by the target date of 2030, and it is children that will be most at risk.
- 2 billion people will still live without safely managed drinking water
- 3 billion will be without safely managed sanitation
- 1.4 billion will be without basic hygiene services
As the largest non-governmental provider of clean water in low-income countries that delivers clean drinking water to a new person every 10 seconds, World Vision UK is stressing the urgent need to turn the tide of reductions in governmental humanitarian aid, and emphasising the need to do more:
“A child’s future starts with water, that’s why it is one of the fundamental aspects of our work with the communities we partner with,” says World Vision UK CEO, Fola Komolafe. “On recent visits to World Vision colleagues in East Africa - a region that suffers from climate-factors such as drought - I’ve been hearing amazing stories of transformation of children’s lives because of our child-focused programmes that deliver clean water – it leads to improved health, improved opportunities to grow nutritious food and, so importantly, access to education. But so much more is needed, and whilst we grapple with government decisions to reduce investment in humanitarian aid, we need to do everything we can to raise the importance of water in children’s lives to protect the life-saving work that is being done.”
Access to clean water and sanitation is rightly recognised by the United Nations as a basic human right. It is a catalyst for better health, education, and opportunities. World Vision partners with communities, governments, and sponsors to provide clean water in schools and close to home, so children can get the education they deserve. Having reached over 25 million people with access to clean water since 2016, World Vision is working to reach 30 million more by 2030. The charity is currently reaching more than 3 million people with clean water every year, half of which are children.
UK sponsors are helping children across the world through World Vision’s community-focused solutions, which means that for every child sponsored, four more children benefit too. Sponsors enable World Vision to partner with communities to develop a plan to tackle their toughest challenges like improving water and fighting water scarcity. World Vision currently has Child Sponsorship programmes (that include clean water and sanitation programmes) in Malawi, Ethiopia, Niger, Nepal, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique, and Kenya.
ENDS
More details on World Vision’s water work can be found here.
For more information, case studies, and assets, please contact Sam Bishop: sam.bishop@worldvision.org.uk
Editors Notes:
At World Vision, our focus is on helping the world’s most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. For over 70 years, we have worked together with communities – of all faiths and none – even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith. Thanks to our supporters globally, we work in almost 100 countries and have changed the lives of over 200 million children in the past five years alone.
When you give to World Vision, you know your donations will be well spent, for the greatest impact. We always work alongside communities, with a focus on the most vulnerable children and families helping them overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. So, you know your donations will go to the children in greatest need.
For further information on World Vision UK, check out World Vision UK's Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.