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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Fiona Harvey Environment editor

Women and girls bearing brunt of water shortages globally, UN warns

A woman carrying a water vessel after collecting from a tanker
Women collectively spend 250m hours a day collecting water globally. Photograph: Mahesh Kumar A/AP

Women and girls are bearing the brunt of water shortages and a lack of sanitation around the world, hindering the economic and social development of poorer countries, the UN has warned.

Women are responsible for collecting water in more than 70% of rural households that do not have access to mains water across the developing world. Women and girls collectively spend 250m hours a day collecting water globally.

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