Action Against Hunger today released the 2024 Water Funding Gap report, finding that globally, only 36 per cent of appeals for water and sanitation-related funding were met in 2023, leaving a 64 per cent gap.
Despite dwindling aid, the need for assistance is intensifying – 3.6 billion people worldwide lack adequate sanitation, and are susceptible to water-borne diseases, rendering them even more vulnerable to life-threatening malnutrition.
The report, released in advance of World Water Day on 22 March, examines data from countries with the most urgent needs seeking financial support for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs through the UN humanitarian system.
“The climate crisis is accelerating droughts and floods, making safe, clean water even more scarce for millions around the world. This report underscores that greater action is needed,” said Dr. Charles Owubah, CEO of Action Against Hunger USA. “The global community needs to quadruple its progress on water and sanitation programs to meet UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. However, the 2024 Water Funding Gap report shows a pattern of inconsistent and unreliable funding for WASH programs.”
Alongside the dire need for WASH funding is an upsurge in cholera worldwide, with a new case every 45 seconds and more than 4,000 deaths reported in 2023.
Cholera is an infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which can seep into food and water supplies, typically impacting populations that lack access to safe and clean water sources. This makes people trapped in crowded and unsanitary conditions, from refugee camps to rural villages, more likely to contract the waterborne disease.
“Cholera is known as the disease of inequity. Despite being preventable and treatable, it can mean death for families facing poverty and hunger,” said Tobias Stillman, Director of Technical Services at Action Against Hunger. “Without urgent humanitarian intervention, the death toll will continue to rise among these vulnerable populations.”
While treatment is typically straightforward, access to even rudimentary health care is a life-threatening challenge where cholera thrives.
Without a concerted response from the international community, such as increased WASH funding, the death tolls from cholera and other waterborne diseases will continue to rise.
Countries seeing a rise in cholera include Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere; Sudan, which is experiencing unparalleled violence and hunger; and Syria, which has experienced 12 years of conflict leading to economic collapse, destroyed infrastructure, and widespread hunger.
The new Water Funding Gap report looked at water-related funding appeals in 33 countries including: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The report revealed that fulfilment of water-related funding appeals varies widely, from a low of 0.7% (El Salvador) to a high of 212.5%, which came in response to Libya’s emergency appeal following severe floods that damaged sanitation infrastructure in the fall of 2023.
It would take an additional $1.9 billion to fully satisfy all 2023 water-and sanitation-related appeals.
The report considered both the overall funding levels of WASH programs in 2023 as well as funding for countries that experienced “crisis” levels of hunger in 2022 (see 2024 Hunger Funding Gap Report).
Strikingly, despite the deep connection between water and hunger, no 2023 water-related funding appeals were wholly met across 17 countries that experienced “crisis” levels of hunger in 2022.
“We found that a greater hunger burden does not result in greater funding for water programs,” said Michelle Brown, Associate Director of Advocacy for Action Against Hunger USA.
“For two billion people, a lack of access to safe drinking water isn’t just an issue on World Water Day, it’s every day.”
The report reflects Action Against Hunger’s analysis of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Financial Tracking Service as well as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Population Tracking Tool (IPC).