A recent report released by UNESCO, on behalf of UN-Water, reveals that 2.2 billion individuals still lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.5 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation services. Achieving the UN goal of universal access by 2030 remains a distant objective, with concerns mounting over widening disparities.
Between 2002 and 2021, droughts impacted over 1.4 billion people globally. Currently, approximately half of the world's population faces severe water scarcity at some point during the year, with a quarter experiencing 'extremely high' levels of water stress, utilizing over 80% of their annual renewable freshwater supply. Climate change is anticipated to exacerbate these challenges, posing significant threats to social stability. The repercussions of water scarcity extend beyond basic needs, adversely affecting living conditions and escalating food insecurity and health risks. Particularly vulnerable are girls and women, who often bear the brunt of water scarcity's burdens. In rural areas, women, primarily responsible for water collection, spend several hours daily on this task. Limited access to water infrastructure further compounds their challenges, hindering education, economic opportunities, and safety. Consequently, this disparity may contribute to higher secondary school dropout rates among girls compared to boys.
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