South Sudan - Emergency Water Sanitation and Hygiene - World Relief Canada 2016

March 2016 - In 2016 an estimated 8.7 million people across South Sudan are affected by the effects of armed conflict and inter-communal violence economic decline disease and climatic shocks. Nearly 1.7 million people are internally displaced within South Sudan and over 640 000 South Sudanese have sought protection in neighbouring countries. The civil war as well as erratic rainfall in some areas has driven 3.9 million people into severe food insecurity with malnutrition rates over emergency thresholds. Outbreaks of cholera measles and hepatitis E have strained an already overwhelmed health system. Humanitarian access remains restricted in many conflict areas and large numbers of people are accessible only by air drops. With GAC’s support World Relief Canada is providing emergency water sanitation and hygiene services for up to 46 992 conflict-affected people in Jonglei State. Project activities include: (1) rehabilitating 10 boreholes reconstructing 8 borehole platforms and rehabilitating 12 hand pumps; (2) establishing 30 water committees (210 members) to manage operate and maintain water points including water quality testing and development of water safety plan; (3) training of 210 village hygiene promoters on sanitation and hygiene practices in 12 villages with high numbers of internally displaced people including 4 school hygiene clubs; and (4) training 18 counsellors and 3 extension workers on sanitation including 36 infant and young child feeding mother support groups.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to safe drinking water; (2) increased awareness of the importance of proper hygiene to maintain and improve health; and (3) increased access to sanitation facilities and relief items. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.