UNICEF: World Water Day 2008: Stand up!

NEW YORK, USA, 19 March 2008 -- On World Water Day tomorrow, as on every other day, some 2.5 billion people will be 'doing their business' somewhere other than in a toilet or latrine. That is not a statistic many people want to examine too closely, but it is crucial data for efforts to reduce child mortality.

Lack of safe toilets leads to 200 million tonnes of untreated waste in our living environment every year. That waste is full of pathogens that cause diarrhoeal disease, the second leading cause of death for children under the age of five.

In this report, UNICEF correspondent Amy Bennett reports on 'Stand Up for Those Who Can't Sit Down', an event sponsored by UNICEF and UN Water to promote awareness about the importance of sanitation.

To read the full story, visit: http://www.unicef.org/wes/index_43205.html

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• UNICEF
• World
• Water
• Day
• 2008
• Stand
• Up
• Sanitation
• latrines