President Obama: "Let clean waters flow"
Inaugural speech raises hopes of more action on water and sanitation
President Obama's inauguration.
Credit: Chad J McNeely
20th January 2009
In an inauguration speech promising a new partnership with poor nations, US President Barack Obama promised to work alongside leaders to "make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow".
The statement adds hope that the new administration will keep their campaign commitments to doubling overseas aid to $50bn per year by 2012, and making US government foreign assistance programmes more effective.
The announcement was welcomed by End Water Poverty members and partners in the USA, who are working together to undertake common lobbying work, and who last week met President Obama's transition team. They aim to encourage the new administration to recognize the importance of clean water and safe sanitation, and to take a lead in ending the political neglect of these vital services.
Laura Hucks, Policy Officer at WaterAid America said:
"In areas without safe water and sanitation, many adults, particularly women, are kept out of work by water collection or caring for sick children, while education also suffers. If the new administration is serious about tackling disease and poverty, now is the time to develop a credible plan to improve water and sanitation services in the world's poorest countries."
Michaela Oldfield from Water Advocates added:
"President Obama's far-reaching words, "let clean waters flow" offer hope to nearly a billion of the world's people who lack safe drinking water. With water and sanitation-related diseases causing 10% of the global health burden, Executive Branch leadership can help reduce this casualty toll by calling for increased development assistance funding to implement the landmark Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act."
Read or watch the full inauguration speech (opens in new window).
End Water Poverty is calling for the US Government to support a Global Framework for Action on water and sanitation.
Read a briefing on the Global Framework for Action (opens in new window).