47 per cent of the world's population live without adequate sanitation whereby people in rural areas are less supplied than in urban centers. The importance of water and sanitation is particularly visible after disasters.
In order to be able to react quickly under difficult conditions after catastrophes and in order to provide water and sanitation to the people concerned, knowledge of the humanitarian aid system is just as important as the technical know-how.
The one-week workshop "Water and sanitation in emergency aid" offered a mix of theoretical input and practical exercises. For example, Mel Capistrano from the Asian Disaster Prepardness Center gave an overview of disaster preparedness and the participants were able to use their knowledge in a playful exercise.
One of the challenges of water and sanitation supply is the sustainable use of the facilities. The participants were able to get to the bottom of this topic during an excursion in the region. During the excursion, schools were visited, which were equipped with water supply systems with the support of arche noVa after the Taifun Hayan in 2013. The participants of the workshop were able to get to know the structures, how the operation and maintenance of the facilities is secured.
New trends in the humanitarian sector were also addressed. Rona Ramos of OXFAM presented a market-based sanitary supply program, which was very lively discussed.
The possibility of exchanging and learning from each other were of great importance for all of the 25 participants from seven Asian countries. "In our daily work, we are constantly faced with different challenges. It is very helpful to hear about how other organizations are working with it and maybe have already developed solutions", one participant says.
The workshop was jointly conducted with the German Toilet Organization. It is part of a project to implement the German WASH sector strategy of the WASH network and is funded by the Federal Foreign Office.
