NEW YORK: Uzbekistan has joined the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)-World Health Organization (WHO)/Europe Protocol on Water and Health and become the 29th country and the first in Central Asia, a statement said.
According to the press release, with a population of 35 million, Uzbekistan faces key water challenges and severe water stress. It added that access to water and sanitation services is relatively low, with stark geographical disparities. WHO/UNICEF said that 71 per cent of the rural population has access to safe drinking water compared to 89 per cent in urban areas, and just 32 per cent of domestic wastewater is being safely treated. The impacts of climate change, such as floods and droughts, further complicate the delivery of water and sanitation services in the country.
Uzbekistan Joins Protocol on Water and Health
As a new Party to the Protocol, the nation commits to set integrated targets on water, health, sanitation, hygiene with a focus on climate impacts, and to regularly report on progress in achieving those goals, the press release added.
The Protocol on Water and Health is a multilateral environmental deal under the auspices of UNECE and the WHO Regional Office for Europe that seeks to protect the environment and also safeguard human health and well-being by sustainably managing water resources and also ensuring access to clean and safe water, and hygiene for all.
