Malian youth tells the world to act on water scarcity now, not later

Abstract

Two young people from Mali today pricked the global conscience with moving testimonies from their native village whose perennial predicament is often that of little water under the stifling sun rays that never seem to fade. According to ECA’s Information and Communication Service at the World Water Forum, Ms. Ahmouden called on world powers to “promise that tomorrow, not in one hundred years from now, not even in ten years, but tomorrow, there will be no schools without drinking water taps and latrines in my country”. “I am talking about that harrowing anxiety following the death of cattle after several months of drought”, said. She said she could also talk about the fear from mosquitoes and the suffering from a rainless year … She argued that since partners has been saying “everywhere that in Marseille, you would not only talk but finally bring solutions, we have come to collect them”. Her brother, Mr. Mai Walette, also addressed the opening session and echoed some of the priority actions for Africa. They include demands for guarantee access to water for all and the Right to water, improved access to integrated sanitation services for all; contributions to hygiene and health through water and sanitation; the prevention and response to water-related risks and crises; and improved water resource quality and ecosystems.