Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and Climate change
Clean water, basic toilets and good hygiene practices are essential for the survival and development of children.
- Available in:
- English
- Mongolian
The challenges
Situation
Low use of improved water sources (68 per cent) and sanitation facilities (58 per cent) constitute another child priority. Access to improved sanitation for rural and poorer households are significantly low compared to urban and wealthy households. This situation is worrisome, considering that unsafe water and unsafe hygiene practices are the main causes of diarrhoea and hepatitis. The former is the third largest cause of under-five mortality and the latter is becoming endemic and accounts for 22 per cent of communicable diseases.
The most important causes of low access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are related to persisting negative social and cultural practices and beliefs as well as limited quality infrastructure. This is further worsened by the effects of climate change on already limited and declining freshwater sources, increased desertification and pollution, remoteness of populations and an overall low prioritization at the policy and budgetary level.
The solutions
UNICEF will support the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to ensure that the most disadvantaged children benefit from increased access and utilization of WASH services and reduced environmental pollution and natural disaster risks.
- Increase access to and use of safely managed water and sanitation services for children and adolescents, particularly the most disadvantaged, including people with disabilities
- Develop and implement a costed and inclusive water and sanitation financing strategy
- Promote positive behaviors and social norms on menstrual hygiene
Resources
These resources represent just a small selection of materials related to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programme of UNICEF Mongolia and its partners. The list is regularly updated to include the latest information.
One in five children globally does not have enough water to meet their everyday needs
Now, I Love Everything About My School
No more mold on walls: New bathrooms for kindergartens No. 122
Uliastai soum now has safe water supply
New school year, new bathrooms
Proper sanitation comes to a countryside school
Hand washing: Keeping Mongolia’s children healthy
Khuvsgul school children look forward to clean water and proper sanitation
Water and sanitation for schools
Global Handwashing Day flashmob by children from Khuvsgul province
