Water is essential for life, and every year you want to claim this natural good by celebrating World Water Day on March 22, since 1993. This reminds the population of the problems caused by the lack of water and seeks possible solutions.
This year the motto is "Water and food security", and it seeks to explain the links between both elements, since in any community, food security means that every inhabitant has the necessary means to safely access water and food in Quality and quantity enough.
However, the "IV Report on the development of water resources in the world"(WWDR) estimates that we will need approximately 70% more food in a few decades, and most of it will be in the developing world.
The report also indicates that the increase in food production will imply a rise of at least 19% in the amount of water required by agriculture. Today, agricultural use already accounts for 70% of the total fresh water we use.
The report emphasizes the increasing risk of desertification, land degradation and droughts. It is estimated that practically two billion hectares worldwide are already degraded, and often irreversibly. Nearly 1.5 billion people live in affected territories, thus being at risk of suffering scarce water resources and malnutrition.
In addition, the United Nations Organization has drawn attention in previous years that contaminated water causes millions of deaths of children a year, another fundamental issue.
Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, highlights this year that
This World Water Day is a call of action. We must join efforts from today to guarantee to all citizens of the world, now and in the future, the supply of drinking water and food.
World Water Day It is a celebration of this essential element that unites all living beings. This date offers us a moment of pause to think about the achievements and challenges that remain ahead of us, and to continue raising awareness among our children about the importance of making good use of water.
Here we leave you a few resources to celebrate World Water Day with children:
Web for children on the responsible use of water
Fluvi and the water cycle, online game
Save water in a fun way
Book: "The earth has leaked"
Stories for environmental education
