According to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on behalf of the United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater-related issues, UN-Water, countries are not doing enough or spending enough to meet the water and sanitation targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) 2017 report, while many countries have increased their spend on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), it is still insufficient to meet the SDGs.

Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, said: “Today, almost two billion people use a source of drinking-water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Contaminated drinking-water is estimated to cause more than 500 000 diarrhoeal deaths each year and is a major factor in several neglected tropical diseases, including intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, and trachoma.”

Current national coverage targets in many countries are still totally inadequate, with around 80% of them reporting that water, sanitation and hygiene financing is still insufficient to meet nationally-defined targets.

Many countries base their targets on achieving access to basic infrastructure, although they may not always provide the reliable and safe services required. Added to this, planned investments to date have not yet taken into account more ambitious SDG targets for universal access to safely managed water and sanitation services by 2030.

The World Bank estimates that investments in infrastructure need to triple if the SDG global aspirations of universal access to safe drinking-water and sanitation are to be met.

“This is a challenge we have the ability to solve,” said Guy Ryder, Chair of UN-Water and Director-General of the International Labour Organization. “Increased investments in water and sanitation can yield substantial benefits for human health and development, generate employment and make sure that we leave no one behind.”

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