UNICEF to aid Venezuela in providing safe drinking water to over 2.8 million people

UNICEF and the Government of Venezuela have signed a collaboration agreement which will help more than 2.8 million people gain improved access to safe drinking water.

Under this agreement signed with the Venezuela Ministry of Water, the world agency will work on expanding the supply of safe drinking water through systems repair and extension, water-trucking and other alternative sources besides strengthening the priority sanitation systems.

It will also offer technical assistance in improving the monitoring facility of water quality.

UNICEF regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean María Cristina Perceval said: “Water is fundamental to families’ life and dignity. This agreement will help children and adolescents access safe water, which is critical to their survival and healthy development.”

“The rehabilitation of water infrastructure will have an immediate impact on the lives of families and will ensure the sustainability of their well-being in the long run.”

The collaboration will see the most vulnerable states being prioritised. The work is likely to be expanded to other areas at a later stage, based on the needs.

The agreement reached with the Water ministry is part of the cooperation plan that the world agency has been developing for the country in the last three decades.

UNICEF Venezuela Interim Representative Hervé de Lys said: “Access to safe drinking water is essential for the prevention of childhood diseases and reduction in child mortality across the world, including in Venezuela.

“We are determined to make more efforts to improve children’s health in every household of even the most remote communities in Venezuela.”

So far in 2019, UNICEF has teamed up with partners across the country to provide access to safe water for over 153,000 people besides  water, sanitation and hygiene services to 18,300 people in health centres and schools.