Background:
Badakhshan is a very isolated rural province in north eastern Afghanistan that is underserved by both government and humanitarian organisations. Residents there have among the worst records of clean water and sanitation facilities in the country and this lack of clean water contributes to critical health problems and loss of income to families.
The villages there are only accessible by small pathways and roads in very poor conditions. The province itself is only accessible by two main roads that are often blocked during winter. Due to the remoteness of the villages sale of crops or wood in larger district centres like Baharak is difficult and villagers are unable to compete with those living in larger valleys closer to the main towns.
Water-related diseases claim the lives of many children every year, according to village surveys and interviews with health workers in the province. The main diseases reported include diarrhoea (from unspecified sources) and jaundice. The communities collect water from either rivers or unprotected springs. Badakhshan is particularly poorly served with clean water. 78.6% of households do not use water from a well or protected spring.
Hygiene knowledge is low. Almost all of Badakhshan mothers do not wash their hands with water or soap after their own or their child's defecation. Because of low hygiene concerns the household is often affected by diseases and illness and a substantial proportion of their income is then used to buy medicine.
Action:
The communities (about 12,000 people) with the help of Mission East will have access to a clean drinking water supply of sufficient quantity and quality within 12 months.
1,504 households will also have adequate, appropriate and safe sanitary facilities in the form of latrines in their household compound.
Target communities will also participate in hygiene training - as a result people will be able to better protect themselves from disease by better hygiene and sanitation knowledge and practice. |
Project Aims:
Provision of clean water, basic sanitation facilities, and hygiene education for vulnerable communities in Shuhada District, northeast Afghanistan
Major Donor: ECHO
Project Code: AFG-ECHO-005
Location: Shohada District, Badakhshan Province, Northeast Afghanistan
This project is funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department
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