Water for LifeWater is essential for life. Yet many millions of people around the world fa

Water for Life

Water is essential for life. Yet many millions of people around the world face a water【16】______(short) . Many millions of children die every year from water-borne【17】di______ and drought regularly afflicts some of the world’s poorest countries. The world needs to respond【18】______more effectively.

We need to increase water efficiency, especially in agriculture. We need to free women and girls from the daily chore of【19】______(get) water, often from great distances. We must involve them in making a decision about water management. We need to make sanitation a priority. This is【20】______progress is lagging (滞后) most. We must also show that water resources need not be a source of conflict.【21】Ins______, they should be a catalyst (催化剂) for cooperation. Significant gains have been made, but a major【22】ef______ is still required.

That is why this year marks the beginning of the "Water for Life" Decade. Our【23】g______ is to meet the internationally agreed targets for water and sanitation by 2015, and to build a foundation for【24】fur______progress in the years ahead.

This is an urgent matter affecting human【25】______(develop) , and human dignity.

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