The water crisis as a gender rights problem in the developing world

Carrying water in the developing world can be an arduous task that leads to debilitating injuries, yet the chore falls on the heads of women and children in 76 percent of households surveyed, according to UNICEF.

The errand not only causes physical pain, but also cuts into opportunities to learn and work.
Though it's backbreaking work that often requires meandering through dimly lit areas, girls are twice as likely as boys to be tasked with fetching water in homes in developing countries where children are responsible for the chore, according to UNICEF. Shouldering this time-consuming effort leads girls to come late to school, or to miss out on classes entirely. Increasing water access would give women more time to go to school.

Fetching water is such a lengthy process, it’s often the only errand women are able to accomplish in a day. For example, Mnguswn, a 37-year-old Nigerian mom, would walk more than two miles round trip every day to get water and wait on line for about two to three hours. When she finally got home, her four kids were just getting back from school and there was often nothing for them to eat, nor did she even have enough water to complete her household chores.

Many organizations are trying to help the situation and raise awareness however much more will be needed to be done before the problem is anywhere near a solution.