the levels of urban water supply and sanitation coverage existing at the start of the Decade. In Asia and the Pacific, to maintain the status quo, 15.5 million additional urban residents a year had to be provided with water and 13.e million with access to an appropriate means of excreta disposal. In Latin America and the Caribbean, an additional 7.2 million and 6.9 million people per year would have had to be provided with water supply and sanitation respectively in order to satisfy the same condition. The impact of the rapid rate of population growth on the provision of water supply and sanitation services in mega-cities is examined in studies undertaken with regard to population growth in such cities as Bangkok, Bombay, Dhaka, Delhi, Karachi, Madras and Manila, where a large number of the urban poor lack adequate services. 91 16. In spite of the many difficulties faced by developing countries, their efforts towards fulfilling their commitments as part of the Decade under the Mar de1 Plata Action Plan were considerable, even though results often fell short of original expectations. II. REVIEW OF ACTIONS AND PROGRESS A. Experience of the Decade 17. The recommendations contained in the Mar de1 Plata Action Plan gradually developed into strategies for action with different emphasis among various Governments, regions and bilateral and multilateral agencies depending on local conditions and sectoral priorities. As the Decade proyressed, particular attention was directed to a number of key issues, as outlined below. 1. Institutional svttina ad sector nlanninq 18. Most of the 50 countries responding to inquiries from UNDP resident representatives in 1989 underscored the utmost importance of having established a national sector plan to the success of their efforts during the Decade. Many were contained within the framework of five-year development plans, sector master plans
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the provision of basic services, specifically water supply and sanitation, in developing countries. The focus is on the challenges faced by these countries in providing these services to their urban populations, particularly in mega-cities. The text also mentions the importance of having a national sector plan to ensure the success of efforts to improve these services.

**Category**
Economic development, Health