..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 22 March 2006
Press Release No: G/06/2006

ASIA-PACIFIC SUFFERS LOWEST PER-CAPITA FRESH WATER AVAILABILITY: UN

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) – An international meeting on the future of the Asia-Pacific region’s water resources has highlighted the region’s distinction for having the lowest per-capita fresh water availability in the world.

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Mr. Kim Hak-Su, addressing the meeting in Mexico, said the two key areas of focus of UNESCAP are integrated water resources management and the development of tools for more effective risk management.

Mr. Kim said that although the Asia-Pacific region has the highest economic growth rates in the world, it also has the lowest per-capita fresh water availability, and the highest number of people living below the poverty line.

Attention is on Asia at the Fourth World Water Forum of March 22. The Asia-Pacific Water Ministerial Meeting is being held in Mexico City as part of the Fourth World Water Forum from 16-22 March. The meeting aims to discuss strategies for the sustainable development of water resources in the Asia-Pacific region. It provides a forum for a cooperative approach to water management.

The meeting is being attended by Mr. Ryutaro Hashimoto, former Prime Minister of Japan and current Chair of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation.

“Over 600 million people live without access to safe drinking water and without appropriate sanitation. In 2005, per capita water availability was about 3,400 m3 per annum, while the world average was estimated at 7,600 m3 per annum,” he said.

“Furthermore, in 2005, Asia was home to 71 per cent of the total number of people in the world without access to improved sanitation; 58 per cent of those without access to safe water; 56 per cent of the world’s undernourished; and 54 per cent of those living in slums.”

Asia and the Pacific is also the world’s most disaster-prone region. A recent UNESCAP study showed that the Asian and Pacific region accounted for 91 per cent of the world’s total deaths due to natural disaster. The average annual economic damage has increased from US$10.6 billion over the past five decades to US$29 billion over the past 15 years.

Mr. Kim said the UN Regional Commissions will continue supporting the water development agenda, using their regional knowledge, experiences and networking capacity.

World Water Day will take place on Wednesday 22 March 2006. The region will commemorate the day at 8:30 at the UN Conference Centre, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok.

For further information please contact:

UN Information Services Bangkok
Tel: +(66-2) 288-1861-69, Fax: +(66-2) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

Useful materials include:
http://www.unesco.org/water/wwd2006/index.shtml
http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/worldwaterday.html.
The World Water Development Report www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr2/table_contents.shtml
The website of the Fourth World Water Forum currently being held from 16-22 March in Mexico City
http://www.worldwaterforum4.org.mx/home/home.asp

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