Despite progress in global sanitation and hygiene, billions of people worldwide still live without access to safe water and basic sanitation, according to a new report released Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report revealed that 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.4 billion do not have safely managed sanitation.
In addition, 1.7 billion people are still without basic hygiene services in their homes.
Alarmingly, 106 million people continue to drink directly from untreated surface water sources.
The findings also underscore persistent inequalities.
Rural communities are disproportionately affected compared to urban areas, while women and girls bear the heaviest burden where water infrastructure is inadequate.
They are often tasked with fetching water, limiting time for education and work, and also face barriers linked to menstrual health that restrict their participation in school, employment, and social life.
Calling for urgent action, WHO’s Acting Director for Environment, Climate Change and Health, Dr. Ruediger Krech, stressed: “Water, sanitation and hygiene are not privileges, they are basic human rights.”
The report urged governments and global partners to accelerate efforts to provide safe and sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene services, particularly for the most marginalised communities.
