Water for Life Water is essential for life. Yet many millions of people around the world face a water【16】______(short) . Many millions of children die every year from water-borne【17】di______ and drought regularly afflicts some of the world’s poorest countries. The world needs to respond【18】______more effectively. We need to increase water efficiency, especially in agriculture. We need to free women and girls from the daily chore of【19】______(get) water, often from great distances. We must involve them in making a decision about water management. We need to make sanitation a priority. This is【20】______progress is lagging (滞后) most. We must also show that water resources need not be a source of conflict.【21】Ins______, they should be a catalyst (催化剂) for cooperation. Significant gains have been made, but a major【22】ef______ is still required. That is why this year marks the beginning of the 'Water for Life' Decade. Our【23】g______ is to meet the internationally agreed targets for water and sanitation by 2015, and to build a foundation for【24】fur______progress in the years ahead. This is an urgent matter affecting human【25】______(develop) , and human dignity. (16)