Africa: UN Agency Issues Warning Over Untreated Sewage

Raw sewage is posing an increasing threat to the coastal waters of many developing nations, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). In a report released last week (4 October), the agency said that as much as 80-90 per cent of sewage entering the sea from such countries is raw and untreated. It warns that this is threatening marine life and livelihoods linked to fisheries and tourism. The report says that governments need to invest an extra US$56 billion each year to address the problem.