Population growth, increased water consumption, and higher demand for water largely due to industrialisation and urbanisation are draining water resources worldwide. Conflicts in many parts of the world also threaten childrens access to safe water.

All of these factors force children to use unsafe water, which exposes them to potentially deadly diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.

Many children in drought-affected areas spend hours every day collecting water, missing out on a chance to go to school. Girls are especially vulnerable to attack during these times, the UNICEF report said.

The poorest and most vulnerable children will be most impacted by an increase in water stress, the report said, as millions of them already live in areas with low access to safe water and sanitation.

The report also notes that up to 663 million people globally do not have access to adequate water sources and 946 million people practice open defecation.

Over 800 children under the age of five die every day from diarrhoea linked to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene and globally, women and girls spend 200 million hours collecting water every day.

The impact of climate change on water sources is not inevitable, UNICEF said. The report provides a series of recommendations that can help curb the impact of climate change on the lives of children.

It said governments need to plan for changes in water availability and demand in the coming years and need to prioritize the most vulnerable children?s access to safe water above other water needs to maximize social and health outcomes.