Diarrhoeal diseases, such as cholera, are increasingly becoming the major cause of recurring disease and death throughout the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, warns the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on the occasion of World Water Day. Its own statistics show that in 2007 and 2008, around 60 per cent of all requests submitted by National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for allocations from the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), were directly or indirectly related to outbreaks of acute diarrhoeal diseases. This is about 35 per cent more compared to similar statistics in 2006.

"We have noticed a significant increase in the number of operations undertaken to respond to acute situations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, most recently in Zimbabwe," says Uli Jaspers, Head of the IFRC water and sanitation team in Geneva. "This trend is the combined result of poor hygiene practices, lack of awareness of disease transmission and a shortage of safe water. Poor sanitation linked to unplanned urbanization is also a major factor. This is further complicated by the effects of climate change which have led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of floods and related epidemics."

"Humanitarian efforts have had some impact, but data suggests we may be losing the battle. This is especially true in countries affected by extreme poverty and conflict, where diarrhoeal diseases have become endemic. Such countries now require long-term commitment if this worrying scenario is to be pushed back, says Jaspers.

To limit the consequences of this trend, which will land a devastating blow to efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals, the IFRC is working closely with governments and humanitarian partners to step up an effective response and to increase the training of the global network of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers, who can conduct awareness-raising programmes and respond more effectively to outbreaks of disease.

Just before World Water Day, the IFRC published a brochure explaining simple methods for people to treat water in their homes, especially in emergency situations or when conventional water-treatment facilities are no longer operational.

"As we mark World Water Day on March 22, we need to remember that nearly a billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water," explains Dominique Praplan, Head of the IFRC health and care department in Geneva. "Ensuring that people have basic knowledge to avoid infection from water-borne diseases is fundamental if we are to reduce the number of deaths caused by the consumption of infected water."

Over the last 15 years, more than nine million people have directly benefitted from the IFRC water and sanitation programmes. An additional 14 million will have benefitted by 2015. Together with Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners, the IFRC has been significantly involved in the response to the cholera epidemic affecting Zimbabwe, with the deployment of seven specialist emergency response units to support the Zimbabwe Red Cross.

The new IFRC brochure "Housewater treatment and safe storage in emergencies" is available on our World Water Day special webpage: www.ifrc.org/watsan

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Jean-Luc Martinage, Communications Officer, Global Health (Geneva) Tel: + 41 79 217 3386