Water, a matter of life and death: International Year of Freshwater 2003 fact sheet

There are more than one billion people who lack access to a steady supply of clean water. There are 2.4 billion people - more than a third of the world’s population - who do not have access to proper sanitation. Access to water and sanitation, so crucial for human well-being and development, has now become a priority for the international community. To underscore the need for immediate action, the United Nations has designated 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater.