United Nations, Mar 21 (Prensa Latina) United Nations today spoke out for the need of 800 million people who still lack drinking water to live with dignity and good health.

The UN also urged governments to admit that the real causes of water problems in urban centers are poor administration and weak policies, not a water shortage.

The message on water was issued by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to mark World Water Day on Tuesday, which will be focused on the impact of water in cities.

The message highlights the crucial relationship between water, food and energy as one of the main challenges at this time, and assures that “without water there is no dignity or escape from poverty”.

It also warns that in around 100 years, 60 percent of the world population will live in cities and towns, and that this increase will be more notable in poor neighborhoods and illegal settlements in developing countries.

In that matter, the number of residents in urban centers without access to drinking water in their homes or immediate surroundings has grown to 114 million, and the number of people who lack elemental sanitary conditions rose to 134 million.

This is a 20 percent increase, which threatens human health and economic productivity, because “a sick person cannot work,” the message said.

According to Ban Ki-moon, water problems will be an important topic to discuss in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+ 20) to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012.

The World Water Day was established in 1993 by a resolution of the UN General Assembly aimed to focus international attention on the importance of that resource and its sustainable administration.

This International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’ from 2005 to 2015, proclaimed by the UN.