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From Africa Recovery, Vol.17 #1 (May 2003), page 27 Water forum pledges support for Africa Ministers attending the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan, in March issued a declaration pledging their "full support" for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). They vowed to back African regional and subregional initiatives to cope with the continent's difficult water situation. Africa has the highest number of people in the world (in proportion to population) who do not have ready access to clean water or sanitation. Only 43 per cent of the African urban population has a house or yard water connection, and only 18 per cent is connected to a sewer. In rural areas, only 39 per cent of the population has access to safe drinking water, and only 35 per cent to sanitation. During the Kyoto forum, a Day of Africa highlighted plans
for improving water resources management and access to adequate
sanitation. It also addressed regional issues of water, poverty,
health, food security, financing, shared water basins and NEPAD.
At the end of the conference, the UN Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the creation of
a new Water Cooperation Facility. Based at UNESCO headquarters
in Paris, the facility will help finance efforts to prevent and
resolve disputes over freshwater access and use. According to
the UN organization, there are 17 river or lake basins in the
world with a "potential" for serious conflict during
the next 5-10 years. Eight of them are in Africa, not counting
the Nile basin, where disputes are already taking place. This article may be freely reproduced, with attribution to
"Africa Recovery, United Nations". Africa Recovery Tel: (212) 963-6857
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