What we do

Water and sanitation

© UNICEF/LAOA2011-00091/Martha Tattersall
Tiksavanh, 10 washes her hands at a newly-installed waterpoint in Keung Public School, Phoukood district, Xieng Khouang province, Lao PDR. Funding from the Japan National Committee for UNICEF and Japanese group AEON has been used to install a new water system to carry clean water from the nearby mountain to 10 water points in the village, including the school.

Safe water, improved sanitation and good hygiene prevent illness and disease. UNICEF has assisted countries in making steady progress on expanding access to clean water and improved sanitation. Since 1990, the proportion of people in the region with improved sanitation has risen from 49% to 66% – but this still means that around 670 million people do not have access to proper sanitation facilities. On top of this, some 236 million people, or 12% of the total population, lack access to clean water. Differences in access to safe water and sanitation in the region reveal widening social gaps, with rural areas, urban slums and shantytowns lagging far behind.

UNICEF believes homes and communities are the starting point for improving water quality, sanitation and hygiene, and reducing child deaths from diarrhoea. With partners, UNICEF:
 helps local governments design appropriate policies, build institutional capacity and create cross-sector interventions
 provides training and resources for communities to improve water quality, secure water supplies and build safer sanitation facilities
 trains residents on the basics of household water treatment and safe storage
 runs public awareness campaigns about personal hygiene.

The Regional Office has helped countries in identifying contaminated groundwater and in preventing communities from using these as sources of drinking water while addressing strategies for both treatment and alternative safe water supplies and promoting safe sanitation practices.

UNICEF also takes the lead in providing water and sanitation during emergencies.

© UNICEF/PHIA2010-0002/Agron Dragaj
Internally displaced child is seen filling plastic container with safe drinking water provided by UNICEF in the Talayan IDP camp, Ampatuan Mindanao Philippines.

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