Humanitarian Water Sanitation and Hygiene Response in Gaza - Save the Children Canada 2019

January 2019 - Palestinians face a long-term humanitarian crisis with approximately 1 in 2 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza requiring some form of humanitarian assistance. The impacts on vulnerable Palestinians include limited access to safe water and sanitation persistent food and income insecurity and the risk of sexual and gender-based violence. With GAC’s support Save the Children Canada is helping to respond to the deterioration of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in Gaza by improving household water supply. Project activities include: (1) procuring and installing 1 000 polyethylene water tanks in 1 000 households; (2) distributing reverse osmosis filters to 50 of the most vulnerable households; (3) providing three municipal water wells with solar energy pumps; (4) providing technical assistance to municipalities on providing WASH services; (5) conducting 50 hygiene promotion sessions including on menstrual hygiene management; and (6) distributing 1 500 hygiene kits with special consideration for the hygiene needs of women and girls.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased usage of water and improved menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and hygiene practices of vulnerable communities in Gaza; (2) increased access by women and girls to water so they can meet their daily personal and household needs; and (3) improved access of vulnerable women and girls to MHM supplies and gender responsive hygiene information to meet their basic needs. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.