State of Acre stands out negatively, with the highest deprivation rate, with 12.7% of minors without access to piped water
On World Water Day, March 22, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has brought out an alarming concern: 2.8 million children in Brazil do not have adequate access to water. The report entitled “Multidimensional Poverty in Childhood and Adolescence in Brazil”, which analyzes data from 2019 to 2023, reveals that, despite a 31.5% drop in this number, there are still about 1.5 million children living in homes without running water.
The situation is more critical in rural areas, where 21.2% of children and adolescents face lack of water, in contrast with 2.4% in urban areas. The state of Acre stands out negatively, with the highest deprivation rate, with 12.7% of children without access to piped water. Other states that also face difficulties are Paraíba and Amazonas, with 12.2% and 11.3%, respectively.
In addition to water scarcity, UNICEF points out that 19.6 million children and adolescents in Brazil lack adequate access to basic sanitation, which represents 38% of this group. In urban areas, 28% are without sanitation, while in rural areas this percentage jumps to 92% alarming. Acre again stands out, with 31.5% of children living in homes without proper sanitation.
The UNICEF report highlights regional inequalities, with the highest concentrated deprivation rates in the north and northeast of the country. In 2024, the organization was able to benefit more than 250,000 people in eight states, including 75,000 children and adolescents, through initiatives aimed at vulnerable schools and communities.
*Report produced with the aid of AI
Posted by Fernando Dias
