Angola on World Water Day: João Lourenço reveals 52 pct of population has access to drinking water

Angola’s President, João Lourenço has put at 52 percent the number of Angolan population with access to drinking water in the country of almost 30 million inhabitants.

João Lourenço said that the country with abundant water resources faces a difficult situation of access to water in the southern region, particularly in the southern Cunene province.

Delivering his speech on March 22, ahead of the celebration of the World Water Day (March 22), João Lourenço blamed the water scarcity on prolonged drought occurring in the region. He opined that an emergency programme is underway, which includes the construction and re-revival of more than 300 artesian holes in the six municipalities of the province.

The programme includes distribution of tanker trucks and other equipment to ensure drinking water supply and distribution to the most drought-hit localities. Still, under the programme to combat the effects of drought, the Head of State announced that the Executive is preparing a set of works to ensure water supply for the population and livestock of the more densely populated Cunene regions. The World Water Day, March 22, was instituted by the United Nations on February 22, 1992.

According to him, the fact of 52 per cent of the population having access to drinking water poses greater challenges on the Government and society. This require moving quickly towards universal access to this precious good in fulfilment of the Objective 6 of Millennium Development Goals, which paves the way "to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030".

The President pledged to give priority to projects aimed at increasing access to and improving services for drinking water supply and wastewater treatment in an environmentally and economically sustainable way. João Lourenço defended the need to take action on daily basis for the preservation and saving of this natural resource.

In his speech, the president said that the Executive, Non-Governmental Organisations and other civil society organisations will continue to hold awareness on prohibiting dumping rubbish in rivers and lakes.

He expressed concern that only about 0.008 percent of the planet's total water is potable (for consumption) and most of the water sources (rivers, lakes and dams) are being contaminated, polluted and degraded by man.

With inputs from agencies.