Access to clean drinking water is a basic human right, but according to the United Nations, over 884 million people worldwide, or more than one in eight people, do not have access to this vital resource. In Cameroon, 74% of the population has access to clean water, but in rural areas the situation is alarming: only 51% have access to drinking water, compared to 92% in urban areas. In addition, the water supply networks are inefficient, with a loss of water that has increased from 25% in 1990 to 40% in 2000. Many water sources are contaminated due to a lack of wastewater management. Women and children, who are often responsible for fetching water, are particularly affected. The laborious collection of water takes a lot of time and often affects the education of children, especially girls.
