If We Don’t Do It, Then Who Will? Global Water Crisis
If We Don’t Do It, Then Who Will? Le 10th World Water Forum has come to a close, but the issues we face are far from over. Reflecting on our journey and the recent events, I am compelled to share my thoughts and the profound frustration we experience in trying to be heard despite our unwavering commitment and substantial efforts over the past 15 years.
My name is Alex Wettstein, and I founded the Fair Future Foundation. Last February, we celebrated fifteen years of uninterrupted activity, serving the poorest in the world’s most rural regions. We have been active in Est de Sumbawá since 2019, working tirelessly to improve people’s lives by addressing the critical issues de eau, Maladies infectieuses, et severe malnutrition.
Our mission is clear: finding simple and innovative solutions to these immense problems. About 65% of families in East Sumba do not have access to nettoyer eau. On average, people have only two litres of eau per day per person for everything – drinking, cooking, and washing. In these conditions, washing becomes a monthly luxury, and every drop of water is recovered and reused.
Our voices are often not heard despite our significatif work, engaging with ultra-rural communities, building Infrastructures comme par exemple ferro-cement reservoirs et sanitary installations, and educating entire communities. The recent 10th World Water Forum allowed us to share our experiences and seek collaborative solutions. Still, our request was met with silence and an exorbitant registration fee, which we cannot afford.
Our 15-minute documentary film, “Matawai, Les ombres de l’eau,” was created to highlight the critical and vital problems faced by the populations of East Sumba. Sumba is one of the driest regions in the world, and finding eau here is a Herculean task due to logistical challenges: no access, no electricity, and, paradoxically, no water for drilling.
Le eau here is a matter of life or death before all. The people in these regions are accustomed to drinking contaminated water without understanding why they fall ill or why so many enfants, pregnant women, and vulnerable individuals die. Our work involves educating these communities, drilling garrons profonds, and providing the necessary infrastructure to ensure access to Eau propre.
We are frustrated but not discouraged. This frustration fuels our détermination to do even more for those we help with so few resources. We know that such forums’ sponsors are among the world’s wealthiest companies et le biggest polluters. They sell eau that no one here can afford, turning a vital resource into a commodity that should be accessible for free to those who need it most.
“If we don’t do it, then who will?” This question drives us every day. We are the ones on the ground, facing these challenges head-on. We cannot rely on those who prioritize profit over humanity. Eau should be used to live, not to make others live off it. It should be available for drinking, washing, and growing fresh vegetables, to sell and create small opportunities, and to feel good in body and mind.
Thank you for listening. Together, we can make a difference. We will continue our undeterred mission to bring Eau propre et better health to the most remote and disadvantaged communities.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation Camp médico-social Dans l’Est de Sumbawa – La maison de Kambera, Lambanapu – The 31st of May 2024
