📉 ADB Urges Urgent Water Security Investments Across Asia-Pacific

• Regional Challenge: Around 220M people in Asia-Pacific lack basic water supply, while 520M lack basic sanitation. Over 40% of global flood events occur in the region, with 4 Bn people facing risks from unreliable water and water-related disasters. • National Context (Sri Lanka): ADB highlighted ongoing support for operational reforms in Sri Lanka to reduce costly water distribution losses and improve efficiency, aligning with broader regional economic stability goals. • ADB Financing: The ADB committed US$ 12.7 Bn to the water sector from 2021 to 2025, benefiting 63M people across projects in Fiji, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. • Japan Partnership: A new ADB-administered fund with Japan aims to bolster disaster preparedness, hydropower energy links, and infrastructure. Key focus areas include integrated river basin management and decentralized wastewater treatment. • Progress: Despite challenges, 2.7 Bn people in Asia-Pacific have moved out of extreme water insecurity since 2013, based on ADB's Asian Water Development Outlook (Dec 2025).