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  • Swaziland
Two girls fill their watering cans from a pond beside the roadside.

Swaziland

A lack of safe water and toilets has an enormous impact on people's lives. Life expectancy is just 48, one of the lowest in the world.

people in Swaziland don't have access to safe water. This nearly a third of the population.

Over 500,000 people don't have access to adequate sanitation in Swaziland, over two fifths of the population.

Over 160 children die every year from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation in Swaziland.

Swaziland is a small country surrounded on three sides by South Africa and bordering Mozambique to the east. HIV/AIDS is widespread amongst the population, making the need for safe water, hygiene and basic toilets even greater.

The crisis

Swaziland is a very poor country with more than two thirds of the population living below the poverty line. Most people are farmers, working to grow enough crops to feed themselves and their families.

The country has the world's highest proportion of people with living HIV/AIDS – one in four adults. These people are more vulnerable to diarrhoeal diseases and need safe water for medication to be effective.

Almost a third of the population does not have access to safe water and nearly half have nowhere to go to the toilet. These problems have a big impact on health and contribute to an average life expectancy of just 48.

Our approach

In Swaziland, WaterAid is working closely with local communities to introduce simple, low-cost technologies. This ensures the poorest people are able to install and maintain water points and toilets themselves.

We work with local partners to help decision-makers recognise the importance of water, hygiene and sanitation. We lobby the Government to ensure these essential services are prioritised and budgeted for.

Our research into the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS helps us reach those most in need. We share this information with other service providers to increase access to life-changing safe water and basic toilets.