More than 2 million people in the world– mostly children – die of diarrheal diseases linked to lack of water and hygiene. One out of three inhabitants of Burkina Faso has insufficient water. The only water available to most men, women and children is stagnant and carries a variety of diseases. In addition, they have to walk far to get it.

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, general director at WHO (World Health Organization) said the following at the World Day for Water on March 22, 2001: “I ask you all to look around you today and to think about the importance of clean water for your own health. Then think about all the people in the world who don’t have the right to this essential human requirement and ask yourselves what we can do to guarantee the right to clean water for all.”