More than 47% of the refugee households of the Sudanese refugee population in the four camps of Bambasi, Tsore, Tongo and Sherkole have no access to household latrines. Sharing of latrines with willing neighbors is a common phenomenon. To further clarify, only 53% at Sherkole camp,67% at Tsore camp, 53% at Tongo camp and 77% at Bambasi camp have access to household latrines. Sharing of latrines contributes to high filling rate, in some camps up to 6 latrines per month. Decommissioning of the filled-up latrines requires replacements through constructing new ones. The challenge of reduced funding affects the rate at which new latrines are constructed, thus severely affecting safe excreta disposal.
The cash based interventions (CBIs) modality which will be rolled out in WaSH sector in 2020, is hoped to put incomes in the pockets of refugees and host communities, and this further hoped to contribute towards refugee participation in constructing their own household latrines. More importantly, this project will also consider persons with specific needs (PSNs) both from refugees and nearby host communities to improve their living standards.
Refugees in the camps experience shortage of hand washing facilities required in prevention of diarrheal diseases. The five critical times of hand washing require presence of hand washing facilities and rubbing agent (soap, soil/ash) so that the refugees can practice hand washing. In addition, WASH in institutions requires significant improvements to enable access to safe water and proper sanitation. Supporting school WASH clubs to promote hygiene is also very important. Lack of these critical hygiene interventions causes problems of personal hygiene, resulting into refugees contracting scabies and jigger flea infestations. In order to address these challenges in sustainable manner, investing in sanitation and hygiene are priorities for Assosa operation.
The participatory assessments conducted in Nov 2018 revealed that shortage of water collection and storage containers and required interventions in this regard as well. Refugee incentive workers are the main agents in mobilizing the community and this should be intensified in 2020/21. In Assosa, UNHCR is working on a briquette making project, which can be integrated sanitation with domestic energy provision. Solid waste generated in the camps can be used as inputs for briquettes production. The community needs to be mobilized to segregate briquette input wastes from non-biodegradable wastes like plastics. Moreover, management of drainage from washing basin and water points locations is very essential and integration of the waste water to backyard gardening for support of livelihood.
Formative research is very key to design and implement the Information and Education Campaigns (IEC)/ Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) materials. Information dissemination using IEC/BCC materials production and distribution, house to house visits, sanitation grand campaigns, using mini media and video shows can improve awareness levels regarding basic hygiene practices.
The Operation plans to establish refugees and host communities’ push cart associations to manage transportation of solid waste. Solid waste dump sites will be excavated and fenced to secure from unwarranted access. Community participation in guarding waste dump sites will be explored. Donkey carts will also help with transportation of sorted wastes for briquettes production.