More than one in six people worldwide lack access to safe freshwater and over 2.5 billion – including almost one billion children – live without even basic sanitation (UN-Water). Unprotected water sources are breeding grounds for malaria and dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Unsafe water facilities and unhealthy hygiene practices also contribute to the spread of infections which cause diarrhoea and dysentery. Globally, diarrhoea is the leading cause of illness and death. Every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of poor sanitation (UN-Water).
Red Cross support
The British Red Cross supports a range of water and sanitation activities in Africa and Asia. The programmes include maintaining and building safe latrines as well as educating communities about the importance of hygiene practices such as washing your hands before cooking and using clean water for drinking.
During emergencies such as floods, water can become contaminated and have a negative impact on people's health. Reducing the spread of disease after a disaster is key to saving lives. Our mass sanitation emergency response unit is ready to respond 24/7 with the expertise and equipment to prevent further loss of life.