WaterAid Nigeria’s country director, Evelyn Mere, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime to respond to the urgent climate change threat to avert the country’s sanitation crisis.

Ms Mere made the call in a statement on Thursday in Bauchi.

She said the regime must respond now to the urgent threat of climate change and recognise the vital role of climate-resilient water and sanitation services.

“Climate change has intensified both the sanitation and water crisis. No one can survive without clean water. No one can thrive if they have to struggle to find it. But our changing climate is making life harder for the world’s poorest people who are already struggling to get clean water,” added the WaterAid boss.

Ms Mere said little was spent on helping the most vulnerable people adapt to climate change, which is putting the health and lives of millions at risk, and urged the regime to address this urgent threat now so that future generations could stay safe healthy.

The country director explained that WaterAid was working with governments, the private sector, development banks, and others, to develop the Resilient Water accelerator.

The statement quoted Bernard Aryeetey, International Affairs Director for WaterAid, as saying, “World leaders must recognise that poorer nations hit hardest by climate change cannot wait two more years as they continue to carry the burden of richer nations’ inaction. Across the globe, mothers and fathers are struggling to ensure that their children have access to clean water because of the devastating impacts of floods and droughts caused by climate change.”

Mr Aryeetey added, “During the 12 days of COP26, women will miss out on 2.5 million working days globally – a figure that could be exacerbated by climate change.”

He pointed out that urgent action was necessary, adding that world leaders must see that decisions taken in Glasgow would have the greatest impact on vulnerable communities thousands of miles away.

(NAN)