Polluted water kills 500,000 people a year

2 billion people use a source of water contaminated with fecal matter, according to World Health Organization figures published in a press release. This unsanitary situation affects developing countries and is believed to be the cause of more than 500,000 deaths from acute diarrhea.

Contaminated water exposes people to cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio

Water, a danger for humans. Yes, for the 2 billion people who live in countries where institutions are not scaling up their investments fast enough to meet the water and sanitation targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Today, nearly two billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with fecal matter, which puts them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio», Explained the director of the public health department at the WHO, Dr. Maria Neira.

“It is estimated that contaminated drinking water causes more than 500,000 deaths caused by diarrheaevery year”.

Indeed, the new WHO report reveals that countries have increased their budgets dedicated to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, by an average of 4.9% per year over the past 3 years. However, the majority of them (80%) explain that this investment remains insufficient to guarantee the supply of water, sanitation and hygiene.

“Countries will fail to meet the global goals of ensuring universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation unless steps are taken to use financial resources more efficiently and to redouble their efforts in in order to identify new sources of financing, ”the press release recalls.

An essential challenge to be solved

To meet the targets, funding for infrastructure must triple to $ 114 billion per year (107 billion euros), according to World Bank estimates. This figure does not include the costs of running and maintaining the infrastructure.

“It is a challenge that we have the capacity to solve,” said Guy Ryder, President of UN-Water and Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

“Increasing investments in water and sanitation can generate significant benefits for development and human health, create jobs,” he concluded.

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