“We want to create awareness of the water crises in Cameroon,” Fr. Jude Thaddeus at UN first-ever conference to tackle global water crisis

The United Nations 2023 Water Conference, which is co-hosted by the governments of Tajikistan and the Netherlands started today in New York City, United States.

The conference which will last till the 24th of March 2023, will represent a turning point in the organisation of Member States, the UN system, and stakeholders to take action and spread effective solutions on a worldwide scale.

The Conference is looking for voluntary commitments to the Water Action Agenda that have been inspired by the Program in order to catalyse action.

Commenting on the conference, the UN Secretary-General ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, said it is expected that the conference will take a bold water action:

“The UN 2023 Water Conference in March must result in a bold Water Action Agenda that gives our world’s lifeblood the commitment it deserves,” he said.

Representing Claretian Missionaries working in some of the remotest areas of Cameroon facing a severe water crisis, was Fr. Jude Thaddeus Basebang. He told MMI that his participation in the conference was a direct consequence of the work they are doing in Cameroon to tackle water problems:

“I was invited because of the involvement of Claretians in Cameroon to provide water. We have given so many boreholes already to many communities who are struggling with water scarcity and we are bringing more,” Fr. Jude Thaddeus explained.

It is the hope of many of the participants at this conference that the UN will make the issue of water scarcity, a top priority, given its importance to human sustainability. For the Cameroonian participants, they hope the world can get to know some of the serious challenges faced by communities in the country:

“We want to create awareness of the water crises in Cameroon,” Fr. Jude Thaddeus further told MMI, adding “There are many communities in Cameroon where water, which is a basic human necessity, is one of the most scarce resources. We need to take action to stop this. It begins with the world knowing and coming in to assist the work we are already doing.”

The UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the well-being of people and the planet, depend on water. Nonetheless, the UN and its member states have continued to make disturbingly slow progress toward achieving their water-related goals and targets, endangering the overall agenda for sustainable development.

Many believe this conference is a bold first step towards achieving these goals.

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