Children are often exposed to a number of different environmental risk factors simultaneously; 1.1 billion people in developing countries lack access to improved water supply and 2.4 billion to improved sanitation.
Many children squat with their families in sub-standard and makeshift housing, often crammed into one room with their parents and siblings. Others, such as AIDS orphans who frequently lose both parents in short order, face difficulties to secure house tenure and end up on the street. Over five million children per year die from illnesses such as diarrhea, malaria and acute respiratory diseases and other conditions caused by the environments in which they live, learn and play. Pre- and post-natal exposure to toxic contaminants may cause irreversible damage to various organs and systems.
With steadily ongoing urbanization worldwide, more and more children grow up in urban settings. Children living in urban slum areas are more prone to be victims of domestic and social violence and fall prey to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as substance abuse or criminal activities.
Providing a safe and healthy habitat is an important building block in an integrated investment for children. Interventions must be cross-sectorial in nature and should involve the commitment of a number of donors and government agencies. It is important to recognize the need to promote urban planning policies that support environments favorable to children and to make parallel efforts to engage children and youth themselves in creating healthy, secure, and enabling urban environments. |
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