Nearly a quarter of the entire population of the Central African Republic do not have access to clean water, and, coupled with almost non-existent health care services outside the capital city of Bangui, this leaves many highly vulnerable to waterborne diseases such as schistosomiasis, bacterial and protozoal diarrhoea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever. Indeed one out of every ten children dies at birth and another child in five born in the republic dies before their fifth birthday.

The conflict, particularly in the north of the country, makes getting clean water to those hiding out in the forests even more of a challenge as as rebels groups attack villages, forcing their occupants into the bush for safety. It is not uncommon for women and their children, some as young as six, to have to walk two hours to fetch water in bowls and then make the same journey back again. Where there are wells with pumps, these often lay broken due to the country's conflict as spare parts are no longer available.

Overall 1.5 million people, about 34% of the population, in the Central African Republic don't have access to clean water and 69% of the population don't have access to a toilet. This video documentary explores water issues in the Central African Republic.

If you want more information about their work or want to help their activities please check out www.charitywater.org. This organisation started work in the CAR in 2007 and has funded 199 water projects giving 216,489 people access to safe drinking water, that's one in nineteen people in the republic and they remain committed to rolling out even more projects over the forthcoming years.