Although 45 percent of countries are on track to meet clean water targets by the end of the decade, only a quarter are likely to meet sanitation targets.
The knowledge comes in a report published by WHO and un water, bringing together UN agencies and other organizations working on this issue.
“An Urgent Crisis”
The study examines and highlights WASH access in more than 120 countries over 75 percent reported insufficient resources to implement appropriate plans and policies.
“We are facing an acute crisis: poor access to clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene standards million lives each year, while the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related extreme weather events continues to impede the delivery of safe WASH services,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Ensuring everyone on the planet has access to clean water and sanitation is one of the 17th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have a deadline of 2030.
“Seriously Off Track”
Data from the Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) report further shows that most national policies and plans do not address climate change risk for WASH services, nor make technologies and management systems more climate resilient.
Just over two-thirds of countries have taken action to reach populations disproportionately affected by climate change. However, only about a third monitors progress or allocates funds to it.
“The world is seriously off track to achieve SDG 6 on water and sanitation for all by 2030 Billions of people are exposed to dangerous infectious diseasesespecially after disasters, including events related to climate change,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, United Nations Chair for Water and Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Reaffirmation of Global Commitment
Partners call on all countries and stakeholders to increase support for WASH service delivery through increased governance, funding, monitoring, regulation and capacity development.
The data from your report will inform you United Nations Water Conference 2023which will take place in March at the UN headquarters in New York.
It will be the first time in 50 years that the international community will review progress and commit to renewing action on water and sanitation.
