World Water Day is observed on March 22nd each year. This was designated by the UN General Assembly in 1992, as a result of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as Rio Summit.
Today marks a key date for mobilizing political will and encouraging society involvement in promoting action for water related disasters across the world. It is an opportunity to capitalize on people’s energies and commitment and to achieve a common goal – in this case to bring global and local attention and galvanize action to cope with water related disasters.
The theme for this year’s World Water Day is Water and Disasters. The effort is to reach out beyond the community and to link with worldwide efforts by international agencies, Multi-lateral Corporation, NGOs, governments and the community at large. Weather, climate and water resources can have a devastating impact on the socio-economic development and on the well being of humankind. Statistics including shocking death counts, costs and figures based on economic, social and property losses, are sobering enough to make us appreciate the extent of the impact of disasters. However, it seems that few of us take steps to act on this knowledge and adequately protect ourselves against the risk of disaster.
Objectives:
World Water Day is pivotal to focusing attention on the need, among others,
to:
| - | Address the problems relating to drinking water supply |
| - | Increase the public awareness on the importance of conservation, preservation, and protection of water resources and drinking water supply; and |
| - | Increase governments, international agencies, non-governmental organizations and private sector participation and cooperation in the organization of WWD celebrations. |
March 22nd is therefore a unique occasion to remind everybody of the extreme importance of water for maintaining the environment and increasing development in human societies.
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