Water and sanitation utilities call to European Institutions to give full support to water services in developing countries
Aqua Publica Europea and other water and sanitation utilities’ organisations call on European Institutions to give full support to water services in developing countries, as a key condition to fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.
Aqua Publica Europea, the European Association of Public Water Operators, join the Global Water Operator Partnership Alliance (GWOPA), German Water Partnership, WaterWorX, WaterAid in a public statement urging the European Union "to prioritize the water and sanitation sector and support water and sanitation utilities to play their full part in protecting the health and social and economic recovery" in this solidarity effort towards Developing Countries.
The European solidarity COVID-19 response should include financial and technical assistance, support and work with existing platforms, networks and partnerships of utilities, establish as soon as possible the planned EU WOP Programme, financial aid resources to the Water and Sanitation sector in developing economies and build more resilient, inclusive and financially robust utilities.
The public statement recalls that "water and sanitation service providers in developing economies are in the frontline of the COVID-19 response." and that "the availability of a sufficient water and sanitation services is essential to slow the spread of the virus and become resilient to the COVID-19 pandemic".
