Access to water and sanitation services

Authorities have not given sufficient priority to equity and non-discrimination in access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services, particularly between formal and informal settlements, rural and urban areas, highest and lowest wealth quintiles, and among marginalized groups.

Water insecurity can be a major driver of conflicts and displacement, particularly in regions where water resources are limited or unevenly distributed. 

Inequalities in access to water and sanitation services, while not necessarily a direct driver of conflict, present significant barriers to socio-economic stability and prosperity. WASH as a ‘politically neutral’ service system, can be leveraged as a platform for intercommunal collaboration and partnerships between citizens and government.

Numerous challenges undermine the provision of WASH services in conflict situations. Conflict can disrupt water supply systems, leading to damaged or non-functioning water infrastructure. Contaminated water sources and the absence of proper sanitation facilities increase the risk of waterborne diseases.

Conflict-related displacement frequently leads to overcrowded living conditions in camps or informal settlements, which often lack adequate sanitation facilities, posing a great risk to the health and well-being of the most vulnerable, especially women, children and persons with disabilities.

Lack of water security, for example, has been identified as one of the key drivers of migration, as it undermines people’s everyday existence and livelihood opportunities.