UN reaches Millennium Development Goal on access to clean water

The UN has announced that it has reached its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for access to clean water ahead of its original target date of 2015.

More than two billion people gained access to safe water supplies between 1990 and 2010, meaning 89 percent of the world’s population now has access to clean running water compared to the 76 percent of people experienced in 1990. The UN’s target for 2015 was set at 88 percent.

The news of the UN’s achievement was published as part of the World Health Organization and UNICEF report ‘Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation 2012’.

The report also estimated that by 2015 the percentage of people with access to clean water could rise to 92 percent. 

“Today we recognize a great achievement for the people of the world,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

“This is one of the first MDG targets to be met. The successful efforts to provide greater access to drinking water are a testament to all who see the MDGs not as a dream, but as a vital tool for improving the lives of millions of the poorest people.”

As the report states, however, improvements to clean water supplies has not been evenly distributed, with 40 percent of people in the sub-Saharan Africa still without access to drinkable water. Despite two billion people gaining access to improved drinking water, according to the report, there are still an estimated 800 million people drinking dirty water each day.

“The numbers are still staggering,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “But the progress announced today is proof that Millennium Development Goal targets can be met with the will, the effort, and the funds.”

“For children this is especially good news. Every day more than 3,000 children die from diarrheal diseases. Achieving this goal will go a long way to saving children's lives,” he added.

Despite the achievements of reaching the MDG, the charity Water Aid has been quick to point to the fact that the other part of the target, meeting basic sanitation standards, is far from being realized. Water Aid claim that the biggest challenge facing the UN in achieving this goal comes from India, where more than half of the country’s 1.2 billion population still do not have access to basic toilet facilities.

The seven other MDGs, including decreasing the number of animals threatened with extinction, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, and providing universal primary education, are all unlikely to be hit by the target date of 2015, according to the BBC.
 

 

Images: Climate Action Stock Photos