UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / 22 May 2008 -- The provision of safe drinking water and basic sanitation are pivotal to resolving related sustainable development challenges worldwide, such as for example, desertification, rural health and effective agricultural practices in poor countries, according to a statement made by a United Nations official last week.

At a press conference held in New York City last week, Mr. Aslam Chaudhry, the Chief of the Water and Natural Resources Branch of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) stated that water was a critical item in the deliberations of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).

Mr. Chaudhry stated that the CSD, a subsidiary of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), at this year's meeting assessed the progress on 72 areas from its 2005 water and sanitation agenda.

Dozens of countries reported to the Commission that they were making significant progress on the water and sanitation front, particularly in the regulation and management of their frequently limited water resources. For example, water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in some 70 countries in Asia and Africa are reported to be reducing the burden of diseases in their respective nations.

Barriers to further improvement include lack of funding, infrastructure and capacity in poor countries, according to Mr. Chaudhry who called for assistance in these three fields in addition to better national coordination.

The annual CSD meeting convened high-level dignitaries last week in New York, in its second week of meetings, which concluded last Friday.

CSD-16 Review Session at http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/review.htm 

Labels: United Nations, U.N., MaximsNews WATER, water, sanitation, water and sanitation, Commission on Sustainable Development, CSD, Aslam Chaudhry, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, DESA, ECOSOC, Marisha Wojciechowska-Shibuya, international development, environment, water news, water sustainability, water resource, water management, global water crisis, sustainable development

 

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