The Scale of the Crisis
The global water crisis is one of the most urgent humanitarian challenges of our time. The figures below, drawn from Islamic Relief Worldwide and global humanitarian sources, reflect the scale of need and the impact that your support makes.
2B+
people across the world lack access to safe drinking water
3.5M
people die each year due to water-related diseases
1 in 5
children across the globe do not have enough water to meet their daily needs
844,000+
people provided with clean water and infrastructure across 19 countries through Islamic Relief WASH projects
How We Provide Clean Water
At Islamic Relief, we have been working in over 40 countries for more than 40 years. We know that simply drilling a well is not enough. We bypass short-term interventions and high running costs to instead provide long-term, sustainable solutions that give communities water not just for today, but for life.
When we build a water system, we ensure communities have a sustainable source of clean water for years to come. We recognise the risks of drought, displacement, and disease, and our approach combines infrastructure with community training, hygiene promotion, and ongoing maintenance support.
Solar-Powered Boreholes
We drill and equip boreholes with solar-powered pumps, providing communities with a reliable, low-cost source of clean groundwater that operates independently of the electricity grid and requires minimal maintenance.
Rainwater Harvesting Systems
In areas where rainfall is seasonal, we install rainwater harvesting systems that capture and store water during wet periods, ensuring households have access to clean water throughout the dry season.
Drip Irrigation Systems
We install drip irrigation systems that deliver water directly to the roots of crops, reducing water waste and improving agricultural yields for smallholder farmers, supporting both food security and livelihoods.
Water Infrastructure Rehabilitation
We rehabilitate existing water infrastructure, including broken boreholes, damaged pipelines, and non-functional hand pumps, restoring access to clean water for communities that have lost it due to age, neglect, or conflict.
Hygiene Kits and WASH Programmes
Access to clean water alone is not enough. We distribute hygiene kits and run Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programmes that educate communities on safe water storage, handwashing, and sanitation practices to prevent disease.
Emergency Water Trucking
When floods, drought, or conflict disrupt water supplies, we deploy emergency water trucking to deliver clean water directly to affected communities, ensuring that no household goes without during a crisis.