Somalia: Safe drinking water for people seeking refuge from drought and conflict

Somalia is marked by violent conflicts and natural disasters. Even now, when the capital and some parts of the country are slowly stabilising, the public infrastructure is still idle. The state is not in a position to fulfil its basic supply obligations.  According to the United Nations Human Response Plan for Somalia, 5.4 million people across the country are in need of help. Hundreds of thousands of Somalis are still fleeing from fears over armed conflict and drought or flooding. Most live in informal camps near existing settlements, for example in South Central Somalia. The influx of fugitives overburdens the already scarce resources in the receiving communities and cities. The urgent problems include: Drinking water scarcity, public defecation and rubbish lying around. All of these pose high health risks, especially for women, children and the elderly.

Need for assistance as a result of floods

Acute relief needs arose in April 2018, when unusually heavy rainfall led to severe flooding of the Shabelle and Juba rivers, causing enormous damage to agriculture, WASH facilities and education. Thousands of people in the Galgaduud, Gedo and Lower Juba regions have been displaced by the floods. In Belet Hawa, for example, water and sanitation supplies collapsed completely. Under these circumstances, there is a sudden increase in diseases transmitted by contaminated water, such as malaria, dengue fever and, in particular, cholera.

Support in emergency shelters and host communities

arche noVa pays special attention to securing the water supply in the overloaded camps for refugee families and in the host communities. Among other things, new water kiosks will be built. These are self-managed water distribution points in the camps. In addition, the municipal water systems in the communities are being rehabilitated. This includes the construction of rainwater storage tanks and the renewal of drilled wells and dug wells, but also the construction and repair of toilets, the distribution of hygiene kits and hygiene training, as well as waste management.

Focus on good hygiene practices and waste management

A special focus of the project is menstrual hygiene management in schools. Toilets are built to enable girls and women to wash themselves and to clean or dispose of the hygiene articles. Pupils and the school staff are educated about menstruation in hygiene training courses and materials are provided which can then be used by the so-called school health clubs and teacher community.  
The general handling of the waste produced also has a major influence on the hygiene conditions in the settlements. To ensure that the waste can be disposed of properly, women are involved and trained in waste disposal committees. The groups receive working clothes and equipment such as donkey carts, brooms and rakes.