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The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, warned today (22) that 660 million children will live in regions with water shortages by 2040. The report "Thirsting for the Future: Water and Children in a Changing Climate" was released this Wednesday to mark World Water Day, this March 22. The information is from UN News.
The document analyzes the threats to children's lives and well-being caused by the depletion of drinking water sources and how climate change will intensify these risks in the future. The report also states that today more than 660 million people in the world do not have access to adequate water resources and almost 1 million people relieve themselves in the open.
More than 800 children under the age of five die every day from diarrhea because they lack access to safe drinking water, basic sanitation, and adequate hygiene. According to UNICEF experts, women and girls spend 200 million hours carrying buckets of water every day around the world.
Impacts
The report also says that the impact of climate change can be avoided and makes a number of recommendations. Among them, it calls for governments to plan for changes in water availability and demand over the coming years.
Above all, says the document, priority must be given to providing access to safe drinking water for the most vulnerable children. Climate threats must be integrated into all policies for services related to water and sanitation.
For Unicef, investments must prioritize high-risk populations. Industries must work with local communities to prevent contamination, and communities must explore ways to diversify water sources and increase storage capacity.
