Fatshimetrie – Image Search: African countries lacking safe drinking water in 2024
Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental right for every human being, but unfortunately, this reality is still far from being a norm for many African countries in 2024. According to data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), some African countries continue to struggle to provide their populations with access to safe water. This situation poses serious challenges in terms of public health and quality of life for millions of people.
1. Niger: The largest country in West Africa, Niger, faces major obstacles in accessing safe drinking water. Due to recurring water shortages and droughts in desert climates, 54% of the population lacks access to clean water, making daily life a constant challenge.
2. Papua New Guinea: Papua New Guinea’s rural population, especially in remote communities, faces challenges in accessing clean water, basic sanitation and basic hygiene practices. Regular cyclones and floods cause significant damage, exacerbating the already difficult situation.
3. Democratic Republic of Congo: As the second largest country in Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo faces many challenges, including persistent conflict and recurring diseases. Nearly 64% of the population lives in extreme poverty, often forcing them to use dirty water for drinking, cooking and washing, leading to life-threatening diseases.
4. Chad: This landlocked country is affected by acute food and water insecurity, caused by recurrent droughts and refugee movements. More than half of children do not have access to basic water services, and only a minority have adequate sanitation facilities. Nearly half of the population does not have safe access to drinking water.
5. Ethiopia: With a population of 120 million, Ethiopia faces a serious water crisis, affecting more than 64 million people who do not have adequate access to drinking water, a major challenge for a country facing rapid population growth.
The critical situation of access to drinking water in these African countries underscores the urgency of action to guarantee this fundamental right to all citizens. Additional efforts are needed in terms of infrastructure investment, hygiene education and sustainable water resources management to address these challenges and improve the quality of life of the populations concerned.It is a call to action for governments, international organizations and civil society to work together towards a future where clean water is a reality for all.