the Decade. The meetings produced important policy documents concerning the provision of services to low-income groups, and recognising the health and economic bellefits as well as the need to expand programmes fox the decade of the 1990s. These policy ststements have been accepted as bases for action by the participants representing national water and sanitation sectors and external support agencies, and constituted inputs to globa? consultative meetings. 68. Finally, a Global Consul:.a\:ion on Safe Water and Sanitation for the 1990s is to he convened in New Delhi from 10 to 14 beptember 1990, sponsored by UNDP and hosted by the Government of India, with the co-sponsorship of the Steering Committee for the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade and of the Collaborative Framework. The objective of the meeting is to promote awareness of the main issues to be faced in the 199Os, and to reach a consensus on strategic actions needed to accelerating progress. 69. About 1,348 million more people were provided with safe drinkiny water supply in developing countries during the 198Os, 368 million in urban areas and 980 million in rural areas. Similarly, 748 million more people, 314 million urban dwellers, and 434 million people in rural areas were provided with suitable sanitation servicesr Overall, the number of people without safe water decreased from 1,825 million to 1,232 million, while the number of people without suitable sanitation remained virtually the same. Table 2 below summarizes changes in service coverage achieved during the Decade in each of the regional commission regions. I&/ 70. As expected, there are significant variations in increases in service coverage achieved in the various regions. A factor common to all has bedn the impact of high population growth resulting in an increasing nuxlber of people requiring
**Analysis**
The text appears to be focused on the provision of basic services, specifically water and sanitation, to low-income groups and developing countries. The language used is technical and the goals mentioned are related to improving health and economic outcomes, which suggests that the category should be related to health and development.

**Category**
Health, Economic development