Failure to Manage Water Kills Two Million a Year - Un

Two million people, mostly in Africa, die needlessly every year, and many more are prevented from escaping poverty, because water supplies are not being properly managed, a UN report out today says.

In 40 countries people live on less than 30 litres of clean water a day for drinking, cooking and washing, and are needlessly in "a truly desperate situation", African leaders will be told.

The report, No Water, No Future, written by the Prince of Orange, special adviser to the UN general secretary Kofi Annan, will be presented to the Accra Water Conference in Ghana, beginning on Monday.

"Globally, more than 1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and half of the population lacks adequate sanitation," the prince says. "More than two million people die annually from water-related diseases."

Unless Africa confronts the problem, it can never escape poverty and achieve sustainable development, the report warns.

Albert Wright, a Ghanaian civil engineer working for the Global Water Partnership, which comprises government agencies, public institutions and private companies involved in water management, says people need at least 50 litres of water a day: five litres for drinking, 20 for sanitation and hygiene, 15 for bathing and 10 for preparing food.

"Incredibly, people in 13 countries, nine of them in Africa, must try to live on an average of less than 10 litres per day, a truly desperate situation. Poverty and lack of water is inextricably linked for these people," he says.

The incidence of chronic weakness and mortality from preventable communicable diseases which cause diarrhoea is high, much of it caused by poor or contaminated water.

Mr Wright says many countries have more than enough water but lack a distribution system. This is illustrated by Albania, the only European country on the list which, although it is not short of water, is suffering simply because its supply system has collapsed after years of neglect.

The agreement reached by the 10 countries which share the Nile's water gave hope to Africa. "Not so long ago those countries were threatening war over water." The same cooperation was needed on the Zambezi, Niger and Volta.