New York (PTI): Stressing that the problems faced by the world with regard to water are enormous, a top UN official has said that the precious resource must be given a higher priority on the global development agenda.

"Chronic underinvestment and poor governance in many parts of the world has left hundreds of millions of people deprived of their right to safe water and basic sanitation, vulnerable to disease and extreme hunger, and exposed to the risks of water-related disasters, environmental degradation and conflict," UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said.

"Developing countries themselves need to increase investment in water and systematically integrate water in poverty reduction strategies," Mr. Matsuura said yesterday during the opening of the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul.

"The international community must also dramatically scale up its support...I urge leaders in all sectors to use this report as a guide and impetus for bold and sustained action to meet the world's water needs," he told the meeting, whose theme is "Bridging Divides for Water."

"After decades of inaction, the problems we face are enormous. If left unattended, they may become insurmountable," he added.

Mr. Matsuura also presented the latest UN World Water Development Report, compiled by over 20 UN agencies, which states that as the world's population has swollen to over 6 billion, some countries have already reached the limits of their water resources.