WaterAid: ‘Forum must be a watershed moment for investment in safe water for millions who struggle daily’

As the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal closed 25 March, WaterAid calls on governments, donors and businesses to invest more in water, sanitation and hygiene in support of millions of people who struggle daily on the frontline of the climate crisis. 

Abdul Nashiru Mohammed, WaterAid’s Regional Director for West Africa, said: “Heads of State and Water Ministers from across the globe stood shoulder to shoulder in Senegal this week to tackle one of the biggest crises of our time, the water crisis.

“This must be a watershed moment for the millions of people whose lives are a daily struggle, or worse, cut short, because they don’t have clean water in their homes, schools or health clinics.

“As our report with the British Geological Survey revealed this week, there is enough water but people just can’t access it. In most African countries, there are sufficient groundwater reserves to tide people over for five years in the event of drought – and sometimes decades. What is lacking is the political leadership, investment and good management to get this precious resource out of the ground and to those who need it most.

“As the climate crisis and the fall-out of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to devastate lives, hitting the poorest people hardest, governments, donors and businesses must unite and pledge to at least double investment in water, sanitation and hygiene at the G7 in June, and at COP27. WaterAid commits to work with governments and communities to achieve a step-change in action.”

WaterAid

WaterAid is working to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. The international not-for-profit organisation works in 28 countries to change the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 28 million people with clean water and nearly 29 million people with decent toilets. For more information, visit www.wateraid.org.