Madagascar
Capital:
Antananarivo
Population:
29.6 million
Area:
587,041
km2

The government of Madagascar has been making plans to reach people without clean water and decent toilets, but local governments and businesses lack the power or funding to move forward. Meanwhile, climate change is making it harder to protect water resources than ever before.

Almost half of Madagascans have no clean water close to home, and nine in ten still have no decent toilet of their own. Without water, it's difficult for people here to make hygiene a priority. Deadly diarrhoeal diseases are common.

Our work helps the country’s poorest people unlock their potential with clean water, toilets and hygiene. We get the government and businesses talking and working together, and we work to put hygiene at the top of the agenda. We're making a lasting difference and changing what has been normal for so long.

people don't have clean water close to home.

That's almost half the population.

don't have a decent toilet of their own.

That's 9 in 10 people.

children under the age of five die a year from diarrhoea

caused by dirty water, and poor toilets and hygiene.

Time to celebrate

Image: WaterAid/Ernest Randriarimalala
I've been waiting for this for 70 years.
Razafindrasoa, Lovasoa

These were the words of grandma Razafindrasoa as she drank clean water for the first time.

You could feel the excitement in the air in her remote village of Lovasoa. People were looking for banana leaves to decorate the water points, and some were building a fence around the tap stands, while others planted green palm trees. It was a big day for everyone.

One by one, people turned on the taps and clean water came gushing out. Many of the children had never seen clean water before. Some people screamed with joy, some smiled and clapped their hands. People were astonished and amazed. Many hesitated and asked for help before turning the tap. They couldn’t believe it.

This happy moment is life changing. It’s a time to celebrate. But the real celebration will be when clean water becomes a normal part of daily life, changing everything.

Ready to make a difference? Donate to WaterAid and help change someone's life.

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