The World Water Council, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and six other organizations wrapped up the four-day Stockholm Water Symposium by calling for political and financial action at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to address the world's water problems. In an editorial slated for submission to various publications, the groups welcomed a UN focus on water as one of five key issues at the Aug. 26-Sept. 4 Johannesburg conference but added that words must be followed by action on poverty, hunger and water management problems around the world. The groups said 1.2 billion worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, 2.5 billion lack sanitation and 2 million die yearly from water- and sanitation-related disease. They estimated the cost of providing safe drinking water for the world's poor at USD 25 billion (EUR 25,8 billion) annually. The symposium drew about 900 people from about 100 countries.

Source: UN Wire, 16 Aug 2002