The Human Development Report 2006: Beyond Scarcity - Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crisis explores the deepening global water crisis at the start of the 21st century, which poses a significant threat to human development. It argues that the crisis is not due to natural scarcity, but is rooted in poverty, power imbalances, and inequality. Each year, nearly 2 million children die from lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation, while millions of women and girls spend hours collecting water, limiting their opportunities. The report also highlights intensifying competition for water resources, leading to ecological damage and conflicts within and between countries. It calls for a coordinated global effort to achieve universal water and sanitation access and emphasizes the need for international cooperation to manage cross-border water issues effectively.