Water is the source of life — but when not properly managed, it can breed disease, create conflict and destroy communities. Around the world, one in nine people does not have access to the clean water they need — that's nearly 800 million people.
Mercy Corps works to increase access to safe water around the world, whether it's bringing relief during droughts or rebuilding wells in remote villages. Our large-scale water infrastructure projects in Jordan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are forging new delivery routes, reducing waste, and bringing clean water directly to 1.25 million people — and counting — who are affected by conflict in those areas.
To complement our water access programs, we also improve sanitation and help people learn proper hygiene to prevent disease; work with families and farmers to implement conservation techniques; and strengthen communities against flooding.
All stories about Water
Haiti: Getting water to survivors
Indonesia: The hands that rock the cradle
I often wonder how a single city could be so extremely diverse, both economically and socially, as my hometown, Jakarta.
Indonesia: Can you spare a square?
I didn’t expect my first blog post from the field to be about sanitation. I thought maybe microfinance or agriculture programs or mobile commerce. Something unique, innovative, life changing. But sanitation? Toilets? Hand washing? What could be less cutting edge?
Somalia: Water flows again for a Somaliland community
Indonesia: Restoring the flow
Electricity is back up and the cell phones are mostly working again — at least as well as they ever did — but there is still no running water in Padang city.
Indonesia: Before the fire
Before the fire, neighborhood 12 of Penjaringan — a poor slum in the north of Jakarta — was vibrant and bustling with activity.
Indonesia: Opening the Taps
If water is life, then Tanah Merah was dying.
Indonesia: Fulfilling Cot Paya village’s dreams
My recent visit to a small village named Cot Paya in Indonesia's Aceh province was my second trip here.
Zimbabwe: Big smiles abound
Water is the key to a good life in Zimbabwe. I am in southeastern Zim, near Mozambique. It is a dry area prone to drought, especially in the past 25 years — climate change perhaps? Farmers barely subsist, earning less than $2/day. Eight months ago this area was ravaged by cholera.
Indonesia: Urban fish tales
Where there is water, men will fish. But I never imagined I'd see lines cast smack dab in the middle of Jakarta, a megapolitan city of at least 8.5 million people.