Worldwide, 844 million people lack even a basic source of drinking water and 2.3 billion do not have access to basic sanitation facilities like latrines. This leaves communities – children among them – exposed to harmful substances that cause life-threatening diseases.
For children under five, water- and sanitation-related diseases are one of the leading causes of death. These include diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera and dysentery. Unsafe drinking water also puts children at risk of malnutrition, as well as the risk of contracting typhoid and polio.
- More than 1,300 children under the age of five die every day because of diseases caused by unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and hygiene.
- About 892 million people worldwide still practice open defecation, leaving communities exposed to water- and sanitation-related diseases.
We can prevent this together by improving access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation for children and their families. This is especially important during conflicts or disasters, or among poor and marginalized communities, where access can be difficult or compromised.