Colombia – Improving Hygiene and Access to Safe Water – Action Against Hunger 2015

March 2015 – Colombia continues to be plagued by a long-standing armed conflict. An estimated 5.7 million people are either displaced within the country or have sought refuge in Ecuador and Venezuela. Consequences of the conflict include forced displacement limited mobility of people goods and services forced recruitment of children and young people by armed groups as well as sexual and gender-based violence. In 2014 1.4 million people had limited access to basic and public services. 4.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance including access to safe water adequate sanitation and hygiene systems health care services in rural areas protection as well as timely food assistance and nutritional support. With DFATD’s support Action Against Hunger is addressing the basic water sanitation and hygiene needs of 15 000 conflict-affected people in the department of Nariño. Project activities include: (1) providing and rehabilitating water tanks and water filter systems for 1 800 households (2) distributing 2 500 basic hygiene kits; (3) constructing rehabilitating or repairing 4 collective basic sanitation systems 120 household water supply systems and 120 latrines; (4) providing basic sanitation facilities for 540 crisis-affected people; and (5) training on basic hygiene practices and hygiene promotion for 11 250 crisis-affected people.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to safe drinking water; (2) increased access to basic sanitation facilities; and (3) improved basic hygiene practices. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.