Water crisis threatens millions across Africa as sanitation needs grow

Africa is facing a critical water and sanitation crisis, with significant impacts on health, education, and social stability. According to Professor Jacques Djoli Eseng’Ekeli at the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, approximately 400 million Africans lack access to potable water, while over 700 million lack sanitation. He noted that more than 80% of diseases on the continent are waterborne.

UNICEF coordinator Martina Rama reported that nearly 200 million children in Africa lack running water, and the situation is worsening. Roughly one in three African children lacks access to safe drinking water, and more than half live without proper sanitation. This scarcity disproportionately affects girls, who often spend hours daily collecting water, frequently leading to school absenteeism and challenges regarding menstrual hygiene.

Experts warn that the crisis is particularly severe in the Sahel region, contributing to increased mortality, malnutrition, and migration. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, officials highlighted the potential of the Inga dam to boost water distribution, while cautioning that regional conflicts and the diversion of resources toward military spending threaten the development of essential water infrastructure.