Addressing Water Scarcity in South Asia: UNICEF’s Call to Action

2023-11-13 03:06:10

About 347 million children in South Asia suffer from water shortages, according to a report published by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday.

More than a quarter of the world’s children live in that region, which is the most densely populated region in the world.

According to a UNICEF report, 55% of children in South Asia suffer from water shortages – the highest rate in the world.

“Safe water is a basic human right, yet millions of children in South Asia do not have enough to drink in a region suffering from floods, droughts and other extreme weather events, increasingly caused by climate change,” said UNICEF Area Director Sanjay Wijesekera. “.

Before the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) is held in Dubai at the end of this month, UNICEF calls on the international community to take steps to secure a planet on which children deserve to live.

The report says that 594 million children globally still lack access to basic drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services, making them particularly vulnerable to water scarcity, risks, shocks and stresses exacerbated by climate.

Water scarcity affects children’s well-being and development, and leads to food insecurity, malnutrition and diarrheal diseases.

Water scarcity also affects agriculture, industry and economic growth. If farming families fare poorly, more are likely to be forced into childhood labor, the report said.

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