Japan commits to a lifesaving G8 agenda

Masahiko Koumura, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs

Credit: UN / Paulo Filgueiras

27 February 2008

"Japan, as chair [of] the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, will play a leading role in the international community's discussions concerning water and sanitation."

At the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Masahiko Koumura, delivered a speech committing his Government to putting sanitation and water firmly on the G8 agenda.

WaterAid's Head of Policy, Henry Northover, commented, "The Japanese Government are at last breaking the silence on one of the biggest killers of children in the developing world. By championing sanitation and water, Prime Minister Fukuda and his Government are starting to address a humanitarian crisis that kills more children than HIV, TB and malaria combined.

"The UK Government and other donors have a lot to learn from the East Asian experience, where the fastest developing countries put sanitation at the top of their national development efforts."

WaterAid campaigns for the international community to respond to the needs of the poor; this is the first time a major G8 nation has listened. The poorest of the poor always put water and sanitation at the top of their list for escaping poverty, but most governments focus their commitments on health and education.

Japan has been the world's largest donor in the sanitation and water sector since the 1990s. The challenge now is for the international aid system to follow Japan's lead and reform itself to deliver aid where it is needed most.

The evidence is clear: Investing in sanitation and water brings vast economic returns and provides the first step out of extreme poverty.

As Masahiko Koumura said, "Water and sanitation are closely related to other issues, such as poverty, health, education, and gender, on which progress is needed in order to achieve sustainable development. [...] Behavioral change and developing clean and safe sanitation facilities are crucial for maternal and child health. [...] The resolution of issues relating to water and sanitation will significantly contribute to the achievement of other Millennium Development Goals as well."

Download Mr Koumura's speech to read more about Japan's commitment to water and sanitation. ( PDF 37Kb)

For more information, photos and to arrange interviews please contact Charlotte Godber on +44 (0)20 7793 4909 or email charlottegodber@wateraid.org

Notes to Editor

• WaterAid's vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation.
• WaterAid's missions is to overcome poverty by enabling the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.
• 1.1 billion people or roughly one sixth of the world's population do not have access to safe water, and 2.6 billion people or two fifths of the world's population do not have access to adequate sanitation
• 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 5000 deaths a day (WHO)
• WaterAid projects providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene education cost just £15 per head