90% of all natural disasters on earth are related to water. Floods more
frequent and extreme are polluting sources already at risk and ruining existing water systems; longer periods of drought are drying up the springs. People living in poverty are particularly exposed to this dramatic impact of climate change due to their dependence on already precarious water and sanitation systems, weaker institutional protection and limited access to credit.
Today, more than 2 billion people live in countries with a high shortage of fresh water. Of these, 1 in 10 do not have access to clean water. By 2025, half of the world‘s population will live in water-scarce areas. People need a secure supply of drinking water that can continue despite floods, droughts and natural disasters. Because clean water keeps you free from disease, allows you to go to school, earn a living and be ready for whatever the future may present.
The analysis comes from Giorgio Armani engaged with Acqua for Life, an initiative focused on providing universal access to drinking water in water-scarce regions. Launched in 2010, the same year the United Nations recognized the right to water and sanitation as a human right, Acqua for Life has since become a brand commitment. To date, Acqua for Life has resulted in an investment of over 12 million euros in projects dedicated to water around the world. This has made it possible to bring clean water to over 437,000 people in 21 countries on three continents.
In recent years, photographer Viviane Sassen has visited Madagascar and Nepal to immortalize the Acqua for Life projects with her strategic partner WaterAid. From her visits he made a film and images that convey the transformative impact
that clean water has on the daily life of local communities. Through the artist’s joyful and positive lens, the film and images illustrate the intrinsic connection between water and life. Looking ahead, Acqua for Life is committed to continuing to expand its engagement with communities around the world to provide universal access to safe, safe drinking water.
Two new projects
Since 2010 Acqua for Life has started water projects in 21 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ghana, China, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. And it started 2022 with nine active projects including two in Kenya and South Africa.
In Kenya, 38% of the population does not have access to basic water-related services while 67% does not have access to basic sanitation. Unicef’s WASH program in Kenya – which Acqua for Life has begun to support – focuses its attention on improving the water supply in rural areas and on accessing health services for the segment of the population in greatest difficulty, operating within schools and supporting emergency preparedness and response processes.