UN: 2.2 billion people in the world do not have clean drinking water
Increasing global water scarcity is fueling more conflict and contributing to instability, the United Nations warns in a new report, which says access to clean water is critical to promoting peace.
The UN's World Water Development Report 2024, released on Friday, said 2.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water and 3.5 billion people lack access to safe sanitation.
Although the report did not examine specific current conflicts, the Zionist regime in Israel has significantly restricted access to safe and clean water during its current genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
United Nations agencies have long warned that not only are children and women at greater risk of thirst and hunger, but the lack of clean water has also disrupted medical care and hygiene.
A report published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) states that girls and women are the first victims of lack of water, especially in rural areas where they have the primary responsibility of collecting household needs.
UNESCO says that spending several hours a day fetching water, along with the lack of flush toilets, is a contributing factor to girls dropping out of school.
