Leading Nations Need to Pony Up Money to Seriously Attack Global Poverty
“It rarely makes headlines but poor sanitation and dirty water kills thousands of children each day and is crippling the health of billions in developing countries,” Mariame Dem of WaterAid, an organization working in 26 countries to improve access to safe water and basic sanitation, said in a statement.
She urged the summit to give a higher priority to sanitation.
We at Water for Humans could not agree more with the statements made this week by Mariame Dem of WaterAid at the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit in New York that concluded on Wednesday (Sept. 22). United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has on many occasions pleaded with governments not to abandon the 1 billion people living on less than $1.25 a day.
Water for Humans understands the link between abject poverty and the lack of access to clean, safe drinking water for hundreds of millions of people. As Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Cleg said at this MDG Summit, “…we do not see the Millennium Development Goals just as optimistic targets for far away lands. They are not simply charity, nor are they pure altruism.”
Nearly 1 billion people do not have access to potable water. More than two thirds of people without an improved water source live on less than $2 a day. The relationship between poverty and health endangering circumstances is undeniable!
Unfortunately, as today’s Associated Press article–below–points out, there is no evidence that there is sufficient funds or the political will to accomplish the MDGs, which includes cutting worldwide poverty in half by 2015.
We encourage all of you to write or call your elected officials to pressure them to ensure the U.S. leverages its political capital to urge other nations to give more life-saving dollars toward the MDGs.
UN promotes health campaign for women, children
By ANITA SNOW, Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS – The world’s nations pledged more than $40 billion to battle needless deaths among poor mothers and their children, and President Barack Obama was speaking about what America can do to help the U.N.’s ambitious development goals.
But the struggling world economy, particularly in the United States, raises deep concerns that the cash won’t be forthcoming. Leaders exhorted financial donors to fulfill their aid commitments.
“The crisis is no excuse for letting up our efforts, but underscores the need for actions,” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as he wrapped up the three-day Millennium Development Goals summit.
With many countries still hurting from the global economic crisis, the secretary-general has repeatedly urged governments not to abandon the world’s 1 billion people living on less than $1.25 a day. The United States and Britain said they will continue to do their part to help the global poor.
“We will keep our promises and honor our commitments,” President Barack Obama told world leaders.
Read more of this article here.
Your Comments Invited — Water for Humans would like to hear from you on the important issue of the need for fully funding the Millennium Development Goals. We welcome your comments and opinions on the importance of the U.S. and other nations to ensure the MDGs will become reality and ultimately, save lives.
