26 % of world's population does not have safe drinking water: UNESCO report

Tags: Reports

According to a report published by UNESCO at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference in New York, 26 percent of the world's population does not have access to safe drinking water.

An overview of the news

• As per the report, 46 per cent of the population does not have access to safely managed sanitation.

• According to the report, two to three billion people experience water scarcity for at least one month per year, which poses serious risks to livelihoods, especially food security and access to electricity.

• The global urban population facing water scarcity will double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7 to 2.4 billion in 2050.

• The report states that the increasing incidence of extreme and prolonged drought is affecting ecosystems, causing severe consequences for plant and animal life.

• There is an urgent need to establish strong international mechanisms to prevent the global water crisis from spiraling out of control.

UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization)

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations.

• It was established on 16 November 1945.

• Headquarters: Paris, France

• UNESCO members - 193 countries

• UNESCO Head - Audrey Azoulay