The temple elephant, Lakshmi, carefully lumbers down the long stairs to the river and blesses the pilgrims with a spray of water before receiving her morning bath.

BBC: Escape from Goa: Hampi and the ruins of Vijayanagara

For most of the past century, agriculture has been the winner of the water wars, receiving the great bulk of water from the Colorado River and its two large reservoirs at Lake Mead and Lake Powell.

NPR: Struggling over Water: A Series Overview

Some 500, 000 people still have no permanent home, 200, 000 have no access to fresh water and 350, 000 are receiving WFP food aid.

ECONOMIST: Myanamar after the cyclone

Refugees are receiving only 11 litres (2.9 gallons) of water a day in 50C (122F) heat, and there is a desperate shortage of toilets, though acknowledged more are now being built.

BBC: Mali refugees endure 'appalling' Mauritania camp