FAO: Access To Water Is Difficult For 2.4 Billion People

One-third of the world’s population has difficulty accessing water. This fact emerged during World Food Day 2023 that had the theme “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.”

“Water scarcity is a global problem that requires a global response,” explained FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu. “The climate crisis, population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and economic development are putting constant pressure on the water resources available to us (…) extreme climate events such as floods and droughts are testing the ecosystem, with serious implications for global food security.”

Water is a fundamental element of life, yet 2.4 billion people live in water-stressed countries, where water is scarce. They include entire indigenous populations, migrants, refugees, and many small farmers. Qu Dongyu also calls for preserving this blessing and consuming it responsibly. Moreover, with 70% of water used in agriculture, transformation of global agri-food systems is needed. The theme was taken up by Pope Francis, who in a letter addressed to the Director-General of FAO explained how it is necessary to “develop educational and cultural models that raise public awareness so that this fundamental good is respected and preserved… water must never be understood as a mere commodity, as an exchange product, or subject of speculation.”

The Holy Father makes an appeal: “The hunger and malnutrition that seriously affects many people is the result of an unfair accumulation of injustice and inequality, and this resource is currently under serious threat in terms of quantity and quality. We must urgently recognize that access to safe drinking water is a basic, fundamental, and universal human right, as it determines human survival.”

Today, October 16, marks the start of World Food Day 2023, a week dedicated to the theme of the food crisis. At FAO headquarters in Rome, world leaders, technicians, experts, and activists will discuss one of the biggest challenges of the future.

The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, who spoke at the opening of the day, affirmed the value of water and food, making a very specific connection with what is happening in Israel:

“Turning food and water into tools of conflict is a crime. Hunger is a contributing or precipitating cause of violence and even war, and addressing it is a valuable part of peace work. This is a difficult and complex task that requires awareness on the part of decision makers, followed by coordinated commitment on the part of everyone. Instead, we are seeing an alarming rise in international tensions and widening fault lines between countries and regions of the world.”