U-Reporters across Myanmar talk about Access to Safe and Clean Water
Written By Edison Htun (U-Reporter)
“Rice gives subsistence for seven days; water gives life just for a morning.”
There is a Burmese proverb saying that it is possible to stay alive without eating for seven days, but a morning without water can be fatal. However, nowadays, with pollutants and chemicals in our environment, this proverb would be correct if it is changed to “clean and safe water gives life just for a morning.”
But what exactly constitutes clean and safe water? And how do we access it?
According to a poll on safe water responded by 1001 U-Reporters from Myanmar, 55% of young respondents believed that safe drinking water is free of pathogens and chemicals, for drinking and household uses, readily accessible all year round.
In the same poll, 21% also raised that family income is the biggest obstacle for their families to access clean water. Interestingly, 6% of U-Reporters shared their opinion that getting water for drinking and household needs would cost them a lot of time and money.
In most cities and developed regions today, people have easy access to clean water practically everywhere, from household faucets to filtered bottles in convenience stores. However, in rural areas, where wells, ponds, rainwater, and rivers are the sole sources of water, it is still much more challenging to get access to clean, safe water.
The issue is even more alarming for internally displaced people across Myanmar, as they face significant humanitarian difficulties. Only 25 to 50% of internally displaced families in Myanmar have access to safe water, according to the U-Report poll respondents. This emphasizes the urgent need for concerted efforts by regional governments, UN agencies, and private sector organizations to solve this pressing issue, as highlighted by the same U-Reporters.
While local initiatives play a vital role in ensuring access to clean water, U-Reporters believe that regional and international attention is crucial in tackling this pressing issue. By raising awareness and garnering support, these collective efforts can make a substantial positive impact on communities in Myanmar ensuring that every family has access to safe, clean water.
