United Nations, Oct 07: United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on the member states to increase investment in schemes to improve water supply and sanitation for the urban poor. In a message on World Habitat Day yesterday, Annan said with half of the world's population living in towns and cities, "at least one billion people suffer from the dangers and indignities associated with the lack of clean water and adequate sanitation.” “Increased investment is critical, whether small-scale projects at the local level or national efforts to build up essential infrastructure," he said. In Africa, 150 million people lack clean water supply and 180 million did not have decent sanitation. In Asia, those figures are 700 million and 800 million and in Latin America, 120 million and 150 million, respectively, he said, pointing to the gravity of the situation. Bureau Report