A UNESCO report revealed that 2.2 billion people around the world do not have access to safely managed drinking water (French)
The United Nations warned on Thursday that increasing water scarcity could fuel conflicts around the world.
A report issued by the United Nations Educational, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the occasion of World Water Day, which falls on March 22 of each year, stated that 2.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to safely managed drinking water, and 3.5 billion people lack Safely managed sanitation services.
UNESCO President Audrey Azoulay said that one in two people around the world suffers from water scarcity for several months a year, noting that in some parts of the world, water scarcity has become the norm, not the exception.
She added, "We know the consequences of such a situation. Water shortages not only fuel geopolitical tensions, but also pose a threat to basic rights as a whole."
Azoulay said access to water and conservation of water resources represent “fundamental challenges” for communities.
The report estimated that the cost of achieving universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in 140 low- and middle-income countries would amount to about $1.7 trillion in the period from 2016 to 2030, or an estimated $114 billion annually.
The report is published annually on the occasion of World Water Day on March 22 of each year, and this year it focuses on the theme “Water for Prosperity and Peace.”
“The theme of World Water Day 2024 is therefore a call to action to manage water sustainably, reconnect with our planet and, ultimately, build peace,” Azoulay said.
Source: German News Agency