More than 74 million people in the Arab world lack hand washing facilities, which are the most effective way to prevent the emerging corona virus, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) yesterday.
And the committee stated in a study published that «in what the world agrees that washing hands with water and soap is the best way to prevent transmission of the Corona virus, this simple recommendation turns into a complicated matter in the Arab region, where more than 74 million people lack hand washing facilities» .
She expected that the average rate of increase in domestic demand for water would range between four and five million cubic meters per day in the mainly scarce region, explaining that "what is making the situation worse is insufficient supply of piped water for homes in 10 out of 22 Arab countries."
And the committee's executive secretary, Rola Dashti, stressed that "it is urgent to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to water and sanitation services, to prevent an outbreak of Corona virus infection."
It cautioned against "using water deprivation as a weapon of war" in countries in conflict.
In its study, "ESCWA" expected that "26 million refugees and displaced persons in the region are at greater risk of contracting Corona virus due to their lack of water, sanitation and hygiene services."
She warned that "refugees and those who are under conflict or occupation bear an additional burden", explaining that in "the Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, only one out of 10 families has access to clean water."
The study warns that the refugees and those suffering under conflict or occupation bear an additional burden.