The Guardian 22 March, 2006
1.1 billion people lack drinking water
A recent UN report says that 1.1 billion people lack appropriate supplies of drinking water and all of them are among the poorest people on earth. In addition, 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitary facilities.
The document, drawn up by 24 UN agencies, is considered the most complete assessment on fresh water resources so far, and was presented by its coordinator, Gordon Young.
He noted that the study ratifies the fact that the poorest people are the ones who are most affected by water shortage, adding that everyone’s right to water and the privatisation of resources are two contesting issues at present.
The report says that it will be hard to achieve the Development Goal of the Millennium, aimed at reducing by half the number of people who lack a permanent supply of good drinking water before 2015.