Guinea Bissau must urgently prioritise water and sanitation, says Special Rapporteur
A UN expert said today that the Guinea-Peso government must urgently prioritize water and sanitation services if it wants to improve the lives of its population, especially for women and children.
Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, is statement At the end of his 10-day official visit to Guinea-Bissau.
“Official statistics show that only 24% of the population have access to safely managed drinking water services. During the visit, I was able to face this figure and hear about the life experiences behind them. The lack of access to safe drinking water disproportionately affects the lives and health of women and children who are usually responsible for water,” Arrojo-agagudo said.
“I met women and girls who started line up at 5 a.m. During the dry season, they walked a few kilometers to reach remote wells.”
Ensuring safety of water and sanitation for everyone without discrimination must be a top priority. The Special Rapporteur said: “Being the least developed country does not justify the failure to prioritize safe drinking water, especially when women in the most vulnerable situations are facing difficulties, always prioritize water.”
Experts say that, besides the enormous efforts associated with access to water, water itself is often unsafe and lacks proper chlorination and disinfection. Arrojo-Agudo also alerts schools, health centers, hospitals and detention centers to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.
He added: “Nationwide, I have heard testimony about the spread of malaria, especially during the rainy season, which frequently affects children due to insufficient sanitation and unsafe drinking water.”
“I urge the government to conduct a public awareness campaign on the importance of chlorination and even provide the product for free,” he said.
Experts insist that the development of sanitation and waste collection systems is crucial to addressing issues related to water pollution.
The expert warned that Guinea-peso must protect its aquifers, which is a risk due to poor sanitation.
“Guinea-Bissau has treasures in its aquifers and should consistently work to protect them, especially given the growing risks posed by climate change,” he said. “Studying and mapping aquifers will also help protect them and optimize their use.”
“Given the Guinea-Bissau’s reliance on foreign aid, there is now a reduced risk, and it is more important than ever to prioritize the funding of states for drinking water and sanitation funds.”
He said the country’s fixed water, established institutions and international cooperation support experts are exciting. “Updating the water code can help prioritize the needs of vulnerable groups and address climate change more effectively.”
Arrojo-Agudo said that the absence of a local municipal agency drinking water and sanitation agency is a major challenge. He praised community management in Bafatá and urged the government to support similar plans.
The Special Rapporteur said that Guinea-Bissau has made progress in the management of sustainable basins and Atlantic aquifers. “The country must continue these efforts to avoid alleged toxic pollution to the corona due to upstream dams or suspected of passing mining, such as the colonial rivers I witnessed in Pirada and Tchethé.”
Climate change extends the dry season to nearly nine months. “In urban areas such as Bafata, Tchethé, Bilonco and Pirada, the water in the aquifers is falling. In Pirada, residents are raising concerns about desert occupation in the Sahel,” he said.
The coastal areas have 80% of the population, urgently addressing the aquifer salts of sea level rise. “One extreme case I witnessed was the lack of water in the Diyobel Island community and the urgent need for dignified resettlement.”
Arrojo-Agudo will submit a report to the UN Human Rights Commission in September 2025.
Distributed by Apo Group on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
