UN expert urges government to remedy water and sanitation issues in rural and ‘Ger’ areas

Oyundelger 2018-04-23 07:04

Society

A UN human rights expert has urged the Government of Mongolia to address the inequalities in access to drinking water and sanitation.

UN expert urges government to remedy water and sanitation issues in rural and ‘Ger’ areas. A UN human rights expert has urged the Government of Mongolia to address the inequalities in access to drinking water and sanitation, saying most of those living in rural areas and peri-urban areas (‘Ger’ areas) do not have adequate access to safe water or toilets. The entire population in Mongolia - whether living in urban cities, rural areas, or with a nomadic lifestyle - should be provided with adequate drinking water and sanitation services. “The picture in Mongolia is clearly divided: residents living in central areas of cities have connection at home to a piped water and sewerage system while the majority of the rural and ‘Ger’ areas do not,” said Léo Heller, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. Heller met with representatives of the central and local government and members of civil society organizations and spoke to individuals living in rural and urban area as well as the nomadic population. He visited Ulaanbaatar city, Dalanzadgad and Tsogttsetsii of Umnugovi province and Dundgovi province. The Special Rapporteur will submit a full report of his findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in September 2018.