Nearly two billion people use water contaminated by faeces, posing a global health risk despite billions of dollars spent on sanitation reveals this new report published on 19 Nov 2014, World Toilet Day by WHO and UN Water. This biannual report "UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water" offers a comprehensive analysis of strengths and challenges in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) provision across 94 countries.

Global efforts to provide improved water and sanitation for all are gaining momentum, but serious gaps in funding continue to hamper progress, according to a new report from the World Health Organization on behalf of UN-Water. The UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS 2014), published biannually, presents data from 94 countries and 23 external support agencies. It offers a comprehensive analysis of strengths and challenges in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) provision within and across countries. Two thirds of the 94 countries surveyed recognized drinking-water and sanitation as a universal human right in national legislation. More than 80% reported having national policies in place for drinking-water and sanitation, and more than 75% have policies for hygiene. This strengthened political commitment at national levels is reflected in global discussions around the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Universal and equitable access to water, sanitation and hygiene have been proposed as global targets by the Member State working group tasked with developing the SDGs.