The Hindu : International : Water meet to kick off in Mexico

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 17, 2006

International

International

Water meet to kick off in Mexico

MEXICO CITY: The fourth World Water Forum, a platform to discuss water problems throughout the world, will be opened on Thursday in Mexico City.

Ministers, experts and members of civil groups from 120 nations will take part in the event. Mexican President Vincent Fox is expected to give the keynote speech.

Residents of Mexico City will see marches organised by civil groups, calling for public awareness on the problem of water shortage.

During the event, which will last into next Wednesday, the participants would discuss how to tackle global drinking water shortage, as well as uneven distribution of water resources in the world.

A recent U.N. report ``World Water Resource Development'' showed that some 1.1 billion of the world's more than 6 billion population are suffering from drinking water shortages, with Africa and West Asia most affected. Only around 1 per cent of the world's water is drinkable, according to the report.

Meanwhile, climate changes, population growth, under investment, inadequate protection and uneven water resource distribution have made the situation more complicated.

The Latin American Water Tribunal has warned that a water crisis would soon hit Latin America unless swift measures are taken to avert it.

— Xinhua

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