UNICEF: 1,000 children under five die daily due to unsafe water, poor sanitation.
Around 1,000 children under five years die every day globally due to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene services, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
As the world marks the Day of the African Child on June 16, 2026, UNICEF data shows that about 600 million children globally lack access to safe drinking water, 1.1 billion do not have safely managed sanitation, while 689 million lack basic hygiene services, exposing them to serious health risks.
Africa remains one of the most affected regions, with 190 million children lacking safe drinking water, 240 million without safely managed sanitation and 160 million without basic hygiene services.
