Illnesses in children caused by polluted water and sanitation are reaching crisis levels in Iraq, according to reports by UNICEF UK.
Iraq’s social services are now at breaking point, with only 17 per cent of Iraq’s sewerage being treated before being discharged into the country’s rivers and waterways. Pools of sewage are spread across North and South Iraq, with enough in Baghdad alone to fill 370 Olympic swimming pools every single day.
UNICEF Special Representative for Iraq, Roger Wright, said –
‘Lack of hygiene and unsafe drinking water are priority concerns for Iraqi families. Far too many are stretching scarce household resources to find safe drinking water – which should be readily available to all.’
Young children are particularly suffering, with diseases and malnutrition keeping many out of school and undermining their growth capacity. The situation is likely to worsen, with possible outbreaks of cholera possible through poor sanitation.
UNICEF is now planning to tanker over 300 million litres of drinking water to distribute with hygiene kits to up to 120,000 families across Iraq. This will allow other agencies to rehabilitate water and sanitation to 1.8 million people, whilst also promoting hygiene education to the Iraqi people to help safeguard their future.
