A Huddersfield woman is helping to spearhead a major global project on drinking water.

Kiran Bali was asked to help lead the UNICEF mission which was launched in New York.

And she hopes their efforts through the WASH project will help save the lives of hundreds of young children in poorer parts of the world.

WASH stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for all.

It is the latest humanitarian initiative involving Mrs Bali, 35, of Fartown.

She has worked previously with the UN on several projects, while in Huddersfield, two of her main roles are as general secretary of the Hindu Society of Kirklees and Calderdale and chairwoman of the United Religions Initiative, formerly the Huddersfield Interfaith Council. She was delighted to be involved in the UNICEF mission.

“I travelled to New York to launch the first global interfaith initiative to promote safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

“This partnership with UNICEF will bring together faith-based organisations committed to tackling pressing social problems that impede the health and rights of children around the world.

“Lack of adequate sanitation is a global crisis directly impacting health, education, productivity and economic status.

“Every day diarrhoea – the second largest killer of children under five in the developing world – claims over 1,600 young lives.”

Mrs Bali was asked to be the host and facilitator of the pre-launch event and the chair of the largest international interfaith group, United Religions Initiative, which is a founding member of the project.

“Reliable water and sewerage services are vital for the well-being of society she said.

“In the developed world, we are fortunate to have clean drinking water, however we must do more to promote efficient and sustainable use of our natural resources.

“This new alliance is built upon the foundation of interfaith cooperation and underscores the critical role that religious leaders must play in addressing seemingly intractable problems such as access to safe water and sanitation.

“Concerns must be translated to concrete and collective solutions.”