Background:
Afghanistan's Human Development Report 2007 reveals that only 21% of the total households in Badakhshan in north east Afghanistan have access to safe drinking water (national statistics 40%). Similarly, 52% of children under five do not use a latrine or have a hygiene means of faeces disposal (national statistics 44%).

The situation in remote districts like Khash and Yomgan where Mission East will be working is even worse - most of the communities collect water from either rivers or unprotected springs and 100% of households are without proper sanitation facilities, making indiscriminate disposal of human excreta the normal practice.

Communities living in these two districts are not only deprived of financial resources, but they also lack access to basic needs such as health and safe water supply and sanitation services. This situation severely undermines their capacity to secure gainful employment and perpetuates poverty.

Mission East has been focusing on safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation programme as one of the major humanitarian interventions in the region. Throughout 2006-07, it completed 25 water supply schemes, constructed 2,300 family latrines and conducted 1,112 hygiene sessions for 16,357 individuals.

This project will enable Mission East to reach out to the remote and vulnerable communities of Khash and Yomgan and address their needs for clean water, sanitation and hygiene education.

Action:
With high level of community participation, Mission East will support the provision of 12 water systems to 12 communities that will thus benefit about 14,000 people. The 1,000 most vulnerable families will receive latrines and a "Hygiene package" consisting of: soaps, water collecting and storage vessels and mosquito bed nets. Hygiene education sessions will be offered to the whole population. Mission East will also extend the intervention to local schools, improving their clean water supply and hygiene education.