Latest Water Technologies of Abengoa Water - GineersNow GineersNow Engineering Magazine Issue No. 022, Abe | Page 39

The poorest and most vulnerable children will
be most impacted by an increase in water
stress, the report says, as millions of them
already live in areas with low access to safe
water and sanitation.
The report also notes that: • Up to 663
million people globally do not have access to
adequate water sources and 946 million people
practice open defecation.
• Over 800 children under the age of five die
every day from diarrhoea linked to inadequate
water, sanitation and hygiene;
• Globally, women and girls spend 200 million
hours collecting water every day.
The impact of climate change on water sources
is not inevitable, UNICEF says. The report
concludes with a series of recommendations
that can help curb the impact of climate
change on the lives of children. Such measures
include: • Governments need to plan for
changes in water availability and demand in the
coming years; Above all, it means prioritizing
the most vulnerable children”s access to safe
water above other water needs to maximize
social and health outcomes.
• Climate risks should be integrated into all
water and sanitation-related policies and
services, and investments should to target
high-risk populations.
• Businesses need to work with communities
to prevent contamination and depletion of safe
water sources.
• Communities themselves should explore
ways to diversify water sources and to increase
their capacity to store water safely.
“In a changing climate, we must change the
way we work to reach those who are most
vulnerable. One of the most effective ways we
can do that is safeguarding their access to safe
water,” Lake said.
Water Leaders • June 2017
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