Kathmandu: The Australian government has decided to join the global call to support the world’s poor with improved access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr on Sunday announced that Australia will join the global Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) Partnership, the Australian embassy in Kathmandu stated on Sunday. The announcement follows the SWA high-level meeting in Washington DC on Friday.

SWA is an important partnership between developing countries, donors, multilateral agencies, and civil society that aims to put an end to the problems related to poor drinking water and sanitation. “Australia is delighted to join the cause and contribute our recognised expertise in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector,” Senator Carr was quoted as saying. In Nepal since 2010, Australian Aid has contributed approximately Rs. 555 million for new water systems to benefit more than 63,000 people from 111 communities in four districts.