Millions threatened by lack of clean water: UN

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has said that nearly 27 million people in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen do not have access to lean water, which can be as deadly to severely malnourished children as a lack of food.

In February, the UN said more than 20 million people - equivalent to almost the entire population of Australia - risk dying from starvation within six months in the four countries list above due to conflict and climate change.

"Unsafe water can cause malnutrition or make it worse, no matter how much food a malnourished child eats, he or she will not get better if the water they are drinking is not safe," Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF director of emergency programmes, said on Wednesday.

"The combination of malnutrition, dirty water and poor sanitation sets off a vicious cycle from which many children never recover."

Millions of people have fled an insurgency by Boko Haram militants in northeast Nigeria where, 75 per cent of water and sanitation infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, leaving 3.8 million people without access to safe water, UNICEF said.

Somalia has been hit by the worst drought in 20 years, with many water sources haven dried up or were contaminated, leaving about a third of the population without access to water, sanitation and hygiene, it said.

UNICEF said conflict had left 5 million people in South Sudan and at least 14.5 million people in Yemen with no access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene.

"We are working around the clock to save as many lives as we can as fast as we can," Fontaine said.

"But without an end to the conflicts plaguing these countries, without sustainable and unimpeded access to the children in need of support and without more resources, even our best efforts will not be enough."

Reuters