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21 March 2008
TBD
Lack of safe drinking water taking terrible human toll
21/03/2008
Saturday is World Water Day.
In a message to mark the occasion, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has focused on the terrible human toll resulting from the combination of poor sanitation and a lack of safe drinking water.
He notes that every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of abysmal sanitation conditions that could easily be prevented.
UN Spokeswoman Michèle Montas:
"He calls on the international community, especially Governments, to do more, including through providing financial resources and transferring technology to countries in need."
Also as part of World Water Day, UNICEF and the World Health Organization released preliminary data on the sanitation situation in Africa, which found that 62 per cent of Africans have no access to improved sanitation. They are among an estimated 2.6 billion people worldwide who have no access to a proper toilet.
This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.
In a message to mark the occasion, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has focused on the terrible human toll resulting from the combination of poor sanitation and a lack of safe drinking water.
He notes that every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of abysmal sanitation conditions that could easily be prevented.
UN Spokeswoman Michèle Montas:
"He calls on the international community, especially Governments, to do more, including through providing financial resources and transferring technology to countries in need."
Also as part of World Water Day, UNICEF and the World Health Organization released preliminary data on the sanitation situation in Africa, which found that 62 per cent of Africans have no access to improved sanitation. They are among an estimated 2.6 billion people worldwide who have no access to a proper toilet.
This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.