Unicef, one in 5 children in the world without water

(ANSA) - ROME, MARCH 18 - Over 1.42 billion people, including 450 million children, live in areas with high or extremely high water vulnerability.

This means that 1 in 5 children worldwide do not have enough water to meet their daily needs.

This was revealed by the latest UNICEF study as part of the 'Water Security forAll' initiative.

    The data show that children in more than 80 countries live in areas with high or extremely high water vulnerability.

Eastern and Southern Africa has the highest percentage of children living in this type of area, with more than half of children - 58% - having difficulty accessing sufficient water each day.

It is followed by West and Central Africa (31%), South Asia (25%) and the Middle East (23%).

South Asia is home to the largest number of children living in areas with high or extremely high water vulnerability - more than 155 million children.

    Growing water scarcity affects the health of children.

Every day, more than 700 children under 5 die of diarrhea due to unsafe water and poor sanitation.

When babies get diarrhea, they are unable to absorb the nutrients they need to grow.

Over time, this can lead to delayed growth and can have an irreversible impact on the physical and mental development of children.

Approximately 144 million children under the age of 5 worldwide suffer from stunting.

    "The global water crisis is not simply on its way, it is here, and climate change will only make the situation worse," said UNICEF Director General Henrietta Fore.

"Children are the main victims".

(HANDLE).