Access to drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

The malnutrition of one out of two infants is linked to waterborne diseases, to an unhealthy environment, and limited access to drinking water. In 2020, around one in four people in the world did not have access to safe drinking water, almost 2 billion people worldwide¹.

More than 80% of the water used generated in the world goes back into the ecosystem without being treated or recycled². In the majority of cases, the community does not have the infrastructure required for treating used water.

Water is draining from fecal matter, medical waste, farming pesticides and potentially-toxic chemical products discarded by human activity. Entire communities can fall ill if the drinking water is contaminated and hygiene is neglected. On drinking a water source contaminated by excrements, the people risk catching fatal illnesses such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid or polio.

Improving the access to drinking water and raising the awareness of the people

Action Against Hunger (AAH) intervenes in the prevention of malnutrition and leads programs for improving the access to clean water, building latrines, drainage, etc. It also holds awareness sessions on good hygiene practice and water management. In emergency situations (epidemics, natural catastrophes, etc.), they put an activity leader out in the field (distributing water with tankers, hygiene kits, putting into place emergency sanitation, risk prevention programs) whilst at the same time coordinating the humanitarian response.

In addition to treating and preventing malnutrition, AAH follows an integrated approach to managing the risks related to natural catastrophes by adapting to climatic change. This cross-transversal approach is integrated in their programs in different operational interventions. This involves preparing for implementing strategies and practices aimed at limiting the vulnerability of the people, the risks and the consequences of the catastrophes on the lifestyle of the people.

The lack of access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene and their consequence on malnutrition are the biggest challenges on a global scale that we are trying to overcome.

¹OMS/UNICEF, Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000 – 2020

²UNESCO, The United Nations world water development report 2017: Wastewater: the untapped resource