The global plan to halve by 2015 the number of people without access to sanitation is undoubtedly a challenge when the least developed countries are struggling to cope with the pro-poor population and their basic necessity. It is reported that almost 900 million people worldwide live without access to clean water and more than two and a half billion people live without adequate sanitation - more than a third of the world's population. It is true that financial and moral support from various INGOs are increasing to meet the global target on "Sanitation for All". However, the population who need the support are not being reached yet.
Despite United Nations evidence showing that investment in water and sanitation can be one of the most cost-effective forms of aid, WaterAid concludes that progress on sanitation has been "slow, uneven and unjust". The share of global aid going to sanitation and water projects has fallen to 5.5%, down from more than 8% in the 1990s.
Alastair Morrison, programme manager at the UNDP water governance facility at Stockholm International Water Institute, said low levels of sanitation access do not just impact upon other global health indicators, but also on the world's wealth. Mr. Morrison said that the issue of sanitation is highly serious. He pointed out that poor sanitation is leading to a loss of 6% per year to some countries' GDP.
A spokesman for USAID said: "It is true that some of out latest programmes, on a per capita basis, are in countries with fairly high, though not universal, coverage levels. But we target the marginalized and disadvantaged populations without service or with poor-quality service." He further said that the US factors a number of foreign policy and development considerations into the allocation of resources to improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene. These include host-country engagement and capacity, the potential for systems strengthening to improve services, as well as low access to service.
Source: Sarah Morrison (13th Nov 2011) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/worlds-poor-to-wait-200-years-for-sanitation-6261623.html accessed on 15th Nov 2011.
Despite United Nations evidence showing that investment in water and sanitation can be one of the most cost-effective forms of aid, WaterAid concludes that progress on sanitation has been "slow, uneven and unjust". The share of global aid going to sanitation and water projects has fallen to 5.5%, down from more than 8% in the 1990s.
Alastair Morrison, programme manager at the UNDP water governance facility at Stockholm International Water Institute, said low levels of sanitation access do not just impact upon other global health indicators, but also on the world's wealth. Mr. Morrison said that the issue of sanitation is highly serious. He pointed out that poor sanitation is leading to a loss of 6% per year to some countries' GDP.
A spokesman for USAID said: "It is true that some of out latest programmes, on a per capita basis, are in countries with fairly high, though not universal, coverage levels. But we target the marginalized and disadvantaged populations without service or with poor-quality service." He further said that the US factors a number of foreign policy and development considerations into the allocation of resources to improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene. These include host-country engagement and capacity, the potential for systems strengthening to improve services, as well as low access to service.
Source: Sarah Morrison (13th Nov 2011) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/worlds-poor-to-wait-200-years-for-sanitation-6261623.html accessed on 15th Nov 2011.
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