In a recent report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), South Asia emerges as the epicenter of a water crisis that is significantly affecting the region’s children. The study, conducted as of 2022, discloses that 739 million children globally are grappling with high or extremely high water scarcity. Of this staggering figure, 436 million children, primarily residing in low- and middle-income nations, are situated in areas marked by “high or extremely high water vulnerability.”
This vulnerability is characterized by a combination of severe water scarcity and low levels of drinking water services. Shockingly, extreme water vulnerability is identified as a key contributor to the fatalities of children under the age of 5 due to preventable diseases, as stated in the UNICEF report.
The most impacted areas are the countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and the South Asia regions. The South Asian region, comprising eight nations and home to over a quarter of the world’s children, is grappling with the harsh consequences of climate change-induced water scarcity.
Climate change is identified as a major driver of water scarcity, putting an additional 35 million children at risk of water stress by 2050. The adverse effects of water scarcity are not solely physical but also extend to mental health, according to the UN report.
The report advocates for urgent investment in safe drinking water and sanitation services as the primary line of defense to shield children from the harsh impacts of climate change. With the upcoming COP28 summit on the horizon, UNICEF is pushing for the inclusion of children in the Global Goal for Adaptation (GGA) and emphasizes the embedding of children’s rights in the governance and decision-making processes of the Loss and Damage Fund.
Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Chief for South Asia, stated, “Safe water is a basic human right. Yet millions of children in South Asia don’t have enough to drink in a region plagued by floods, droughts, and other extreme weather events, triggered increasingly by climate change.”
The report also notes that, although 45 million children in South Asia lacked access to basic drinking water services last year, there is progress, with services expanding rapidly, and the number is expected to be halved by 2030. Behind South Asia, Eastern and Southern Africa are highlighted as regions where 130 million children are at risk due to severe water scarcity, indicating a widespread global concern that demands urgent attention and concerted efforts.
