UN: 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water

A United Nations report has revealed that 2.2 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water, and billions more are deprived of basic sanitation services. In the report released on Saturday, October 17, the organization added that 3.4 billion people do not have access to safely managed sanitation, while 1.7 billion lack basic hygiene facilities at home. According to the report, water resources worldwide are facing serious challenges due to pollution, increasing pressure on resources, and poor management.

The UN highlighted that only 56 percent of household wastewater is safely treated, which increases health and environmental risks. The report also indicates that cooperation between countries on managing shared water resources is limited, and water stress in many parts of the world remains at a critical level. The UN warned that approximately four billion people globally face severe water scarcity for at least one month a year, threatening food security and social stability.