World water crisis 'needs urgent action'
Friday, 10 Nov 2006 11:33
Worldwide access to clean water 'could save' nearly two million lives
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G8 leaders must implement a global plan to resolve the world's growing water and sanitation crisis, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said.
It claims that if such a plan were implemented then nearly two million child deaths from diarrhoea each year could be prevented.
The 2006 Human Development Report from the UNDP, entitled Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis, argues that violent conflict receives much of the world's attention and action while the "silent emergency" of unclean water is not dealt with.
"When it comes to water and sanitation, the world suffers from a surplus of conference activity and a deficit of credible action. The diversity of international actors has militated against the development of strong international champions for water and sanitation," says Kevin Watkins, lead author of the report.
The report estimates that each year a lack of clean water and sanitation leads to 1.8 million child deaths from diarrhoea; 443 million school days are lost; and almost 50 per cent of all people in developing countries suffering at any given time from a health problem.
Economic growth is also affected by the water crisis, costing sub-Saharan Africa five per cent of GDP annually.
UNDP administrator Kemal Dervis warned: "Either we take concerted action now to bring clean water and sanitation to the world's poor, or we consign millions of people to lives of avoidable poverty, poor health and diminished opportunities, and perpetuate deep inequalities within and between countries. And we have a collective responsibility to succeed."
In addition to a global action plan, the report recommends that governments should spend one per cent of GDP on water and sanitation and calls for an increase of international aid by an extra $3.4 billion (£1.8 billion) to $4 billion (£2.1 billion) annually.
The report argues that the economic return in saved time, increased productivity and reduced health costs would equal $8 (£4.17) for each $1 (£0.52) invested in achieving the water and sanitation target.