Congo is arguably among the poorest countries in the world. The SWEAT analysis criterion presents a feasible and accurate model for determining the level of poverty in countries. To start with, Congo has a significant problem with its sewage drainage. A report by the International Monetary Fund indicates that only 5% of the waste produces in homes reaches the sewer; the rest is discarded into the environment (2012). On the other hand, UNEP reports that only 26% of the citizens in Congo have access to clean water to drink (2011). Apart from that, the electricity supply in the country is limited. USAID suggests that only 9% of the Congolese have access to electricity (2018). Even though Congo is trying to enact reforms to improve education, …show more content…
According to a report by The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
“only around 26 percent of the DRC 's population of 67.8 million – equivalent to 17.6 million people – have access to safe drinking water, well below the approximately 60 percent average for Sub-Saharan Africa” (2011).
Arguably, this is because the Congolese government lacks sufficient funds to lay pipes and improve its water pumping system. Congo is experiencing rapid population growth in its urban centers thereby making it hard to provide water for the extra number of people. Furthermore, most of the water facilities in Congo are non-functional due to the high cost of running them. The price of water is also quite high in the country. In conjunction with this, the contraction of water catchment areas makes harvesting and distribution quite
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Similarly, only 15% of the total investment dedicated to improving water supply in the country is allocated to the rural areas. As a result, there have been numerous instances of bacterial contamination. Water in Congo is drawn from various natural and human-made resources. The Congo’s River acts as the country’s largest natural water catchment area. Springs are an essential water resource in Congo. UNEP estimates that springs account for up to 90% of the total amount of water consumed in the rural areas (2011). In addition, UNEP indicates that there are approximately 1000 boreholes in Congo, which provide water for a small portion of individuals who reside in the rural areas. Similarly, UNEP estimates that Congo has a per capita water figure of 19,967m3 that is well above the internationally acknowledged figure of 1,7000m3 (2011). Nevertheless, the supply of this water into homes in rural and urban areas lags at only 7m3 per capita in every other