By Taofeek Lawal, Abuja
As the world marked the annual World Water Day (WWD), on March 22 this year, governments at all levels have been advised to prioritise water in their climate plans because without access to clean water, people will be affected by poverty, sickness and the endless drudgery of collecting water most especially by women and girls.
The call was made at the World Water Day 2021 event organized by WaterAid Nigeria.
According to WaterAid, water scarcity will displace between 24 million and 700 million people by 2030. And with less than a decade to deliver on Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation for all), governments at sub-national and national levels have been urged to address the current and future threats to water access as part of climate action plans which include the National Action Plan for the Revitalization of the Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH). The Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere in her remarks said climate change is making it more difficult for the vulnerable people to be able to rely on having clean water when they need it a situation she described as a great injustice to the world’s poorest who contributed less to the crisis.
“Unless communities have access to a reliable source of water, people’s health will suffer, and they’ll be burdened with spending more and more time searching for water, taking away the opportunity to create a better life and escape poverty. The government needs to step up now, commit to reductions and recognise the critical role clean water has in helping communities cope with climate change and recovering quickly from related extreme weather events,” the Country Director said.
According to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), progress on drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, 2017 update and SDG Baselines, around 310,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoea diseases caused by poor water and sanitation which is approximately 800 children a day, or one child every two minutes.