These areas include nearly all of the Middle East and large parts of northern and southern Africa. Water shortages, polluted water and poor sanitation kill more than 12 million people each year. These numbers illustrate why CARE works to maximize the benefits of access to water and sanitation, Lochery says. CARE believes the community should be setting the priorities from the beginning. They must be, they're surviving.
Water is a renewable, but finite resource.
The amount of available fresh water on the planet has not changed significantly in thousands of years, Lochery says. What has changed significantly is the number of people who depend on that water. The continuing population explosion is the principle threat to sustainable water management. The number of people managing extremely limited water resources is getting larger. Wells built with CARE's assistance help communities in Mozambique.