About 600 million children will live with limited water resources by 2040 – UNICEF
A recent report by UNICEF titled “Thirsting for a Future: Water and children in a changing climate” looked at the threats to children’s lives and wellbeing caused by depleted sources of safe water and the ways climate change will intensify these risks in coming years.
According UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake, “Water is elemental; without it, nothing can grow. But around the world, millions of children lack access to safe water – endangering their lives, undermining their health, and jeopardizing their futures. This crisis will only grow unless we take collective action now.”
According to the report, 37 countries including Nigeria are currently facing extremely high levels of water stress, which occurs when more than 80 per cent of the water available for agriculture, industry and domestic use is withdrawn annually. Warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, increased floods, droughts and melting ice affect the quality and availability of water.
For Nigeria, the challenge is not a lack of water resources such as rainfall or ground water; it is the availability of physical infrastructure to harness these water resources effectively. There are major differences in rainfall between the north and south, making it all the more important to better plan and manage water resources to minimise the impact of flood and drought.
“As we work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of reaching every Nigerian with access to safe, functional, affordable and accessible water, we must manage water resources more efficiently to meet the needs of Nigeria’s growing population and economic development,” said Kannan Nadar, UNICEF’s Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Population growth, increased water consumption, and higher demand for water largely due to industrialization and urbanization, are draining water resources worldwide. Conflicts in many parts of the world also threaten children’s access to safe water.
All of these factors force children to use unsafe water, which exposes them to potentially deadly diseases like cholera and diarrhoea. Many children in drought-affected areas spend hours every day collecting water, missing out on a chance to go to school. Girls are especially vulnerable to attack during these times.
The poorest and most vulnerable children will be most impacted by an increase in water stress, as millions of them already live in areas with low access to safe water and sanitation, the report stated.
