Of these, 106 million drink directly from rivers, lakes, or other untreated surface sources, according to a new report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

In this regard, the UN urges countries and governments to act faster and more boldly to reach those most in need with this resource.

UNICEF expert Cecilia Scharp warned that at the current rate, the promise of safe drinking water and sanitation for all children is increasingly distant.

Regarding glaring inequalities in access to life-saving liquids, the global organization stated that people in the least developed countries are twice as likely as others to lack access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

Rural populations, children, and ethnic and indigenous minorities are on the front lines, according to the report.

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