As world attention was focused on the war in Iraq, an important forum on the global water crisis was being held in three cities in Japan. While the war in Iraq did not prevent the 3rd World Water Forum from being held, it did claim a casualty. French President Jacques Chirac cancelled his participation and instead delivered a video message at the opening ceremony.
'In 20 years, nearly two-thirds of the world's inhabitants may face water shortages,' he said. 'As host of the upcoming G-8 summit, France has made sustainable development and the future of the African continent the priorities for the meeting. Water is a key issue.'
This year was designated the International Year of Freshwater by the United Nations, and last Saturday was designated World Water Day so the world would not forget the tremendous crisis it is facing over access to clean water.
Hong Kong, of course, knows just how precious water is, having experienced many years of water rationing before an agreement was reached to buy water from Guangdong province.
The United Nations has set as a goal halving the estimated 1.1 billion people who lack access to safe water by 2015. Nearly 300 million of Africa's 680 million people lack access to safe water.
Clean water is a major issue in Asia as well, home to 60 per cent of the world's people but with only 37 per cent of the world's water resources. In Indonesia, 80 per cent of the population does not have access to running water. In the Philippines, 10 million people have no sustainable source of potable water.
Lack of access to clean water can result in diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid. Last year, 1.6 million children died of diarrhoea, from drinking polluted water.