WARNING: Some Photos Below Are Very Graphic & May Be DISTRESSING TO SOME - browse with caution!
Deadline: 7 Dec 2008 Help: 500 + people (1 village)
Everyone needs water. But what if the water makes you ill? Over 80 million people are affected in Bangladesh alone and people are dying young and leaving children orphaned.
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What is Arsenic Poisoning?
Groundwater in certain areas of the world , and in Bangladesh, have been found to contain unsafe levels of arsenic. Arsenic is tasteless and odourless and ingestion of the contaminated water causes havoc in the body leading to cancers, organ failure, skin problems and death. Some reports say that over 80 million people in Bangladesh are at risk - the well off can afford expensive water filters and bottled water - the poor cannot:
According to WHO guidelines, 0.01ppb of dissolved Arsenic is the safe limit. The governments of India & Bangladesh both use the limit of 0.05ppb. The arsenic found in water in Bangladesh is many times this amount and the solutions we are studying claim to bring it down to the government limits of 0.05ppb. There are people who are drinking water contaminated with over 800ppb of dissolved arsenic and it is claimed that at these levels it can cause the human liver to disintegrate.
Image courtesy of: Manob Sakti Unnayan Kendro (MSUK)
These two people are victims. Both are now dead. When they were alive they were very ill and could not work. What of their surviving children?
How will Mercy Mankind International Help ?
We have met scientists and other NGOs and have decided to give out free Arsenic Removal Water Filters to families that cannot afford it in the worst affected areas. Each filter will supply about 50 litres of safe drinking water per day fo a family of 5 or more, for over 5 years. We plan on distributing over 50 of these units in December to begin with. This will save over 500+ lives. We will distribute them FREE and monitor its correct use with a partner NGO.
Filter in use in Nepal
Image courtesy of: Manob Sakti Unnayan Kendro (MSUK)
Each filter costs £20 and this covers the purchase cost only. We will arrange training, transportation and distribution costs from other donations. These filters have been designed by an American scientist and are manufactured in Bangladesh and are recognised for their efficacy by leading NGO's like UNICEF and by the Bangladesh government themselves. They are scientifically tested to ensure they work and contains a special sand-like filter which absorbs the arsenic to safe levels.
Help By Donating Towards This Project. We need at least £1000 by 7th December 2008. This will help at least 500 people with safe drinking water for a minimum of 5 years. Each filter will costs £20 and will protect one large family . Donate as little as you want, everything adds up.
You can donate in $ or £ by clicking on the graphics below. We will be distributing these ourselves in December and you will get to see the photos online after about a month. Thank you.
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Do get in touch using the contact page if you have any questions.
Please Donate so we can continue projects like this one. We are completely reliant upon your donations for our regular monthly projects. Thank you.