From experts‘ point of view, the vital resource water is not getting enough attention in many parts of the world. Accordingly, there was a lack of important investments, according to the current World Water Report, which UNESCO prepared on behalf of the United Nations. The report calls for the fundamental value of water to be recognized and measured. Water is all too often taken for granted all over the world. That leads to pollution and waste.
Especially in times of pandemics such as the current Covid-19 pandemic, local governments and water and sanitation operators play a special role. Their importance for life and public health becomes even more visible. The pandemic hits people hardest worldwide who live in poor settlements and slums, write the experts.
Two billion people without access to safe drinking water
According to the report, more than two billion people worldwide have no access to safe drinking water. More than four billion have no safe access to sanitary facilities, and more than three billion lack suitable hand hygiene facilities.
Two out of five medical facilities do not have adequate access to hand hygiene facilities, it is said. Hand hygiene is extremely important to prevent the spread of pandemics such as Covid-19. The United Nations World Water Report is drawn up annually by UNESCO and its “World Water Assessment Program”.
