Executive Secretary, Mr. Kim Hak-Su with Mr. Ali Basaran, WHO Regional Advisor, West and Pacific Regional Office , at the World Water Day 2001

The United Nations’ World Water Day is held annually on 22 March, to commemorate the importance of water and emphasize the conservation and management of water resources.

ESCAP organized a special event to commemorate the International World Water Day 2001 with support/participation from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the theme of "Water and Health”.

An old Chinese proverb reads “Water is feared less than fire, yet fewer suffer from fire than water”.  In lieu of the grave numbers affected by contaminated drinking water and inadequate sanitation,    Mr. Terence Thompson, WHO Regional Advisor, South and East Asia Regional Office, in his statement underscored the need to create awareness, provide information, empower and motivate the largest possible audience to tackle this problem.

The keynote address on “The Water Cycle” was made by Dr. Suraphol Sudara from Chulalongorn University . The first session was a panel discussion on "Perspectives of Water and Health: Vision into Action" . The second session included a discussion on "Water and Health: Prevention is Better than Cure". The afternoon session was devoted to "NGOs and Volunteers: Initiatives on Water Conservation" and   was  aimed at evoking a sense of participation among young Thai students in water conservation and management initiatives. Presentations were made by various UN agencies and organizations  such as International Water Management Institute, the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Thai Environmental and Communities Development Association and the Green World Foundation.  Mr. Shigemitsu Tsukamoto, representing the Preparatory Secretariat of the Third World Water Forum made a slide presentation on the preparations for the Forum to be held in Japan in 2003.

An exhibition was also  organized for the event on the entitled theme. More than 300 participants from various UN agencies, NGOs, international organizations and government ministries attended the event.

Information Booth of the Third World Water Forum at the World Water Day 2001

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