IOM Somalia Water, Sanitation And Hygiene (WASH) Project Fact Sheet by IOM Somalia Mission

SOMALIA

WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) PROGRAMME

“OUR GOAL IS TO REDUCE WATER-BORNE DISEASES AMONG MIGRANTS, MOBILE POPULATIONS AND THEIR AFFECTED HOST COMMUNITIES IN SOMALIA”

reduce water-borne disease among the most vulnerable populations in Somalia.

It is difficult to access clean and safe water in Somalia due to a combination of natural arid climate and human-induced conflict.

In 2012, IOM undertook two rounds of a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) study throughout Somalia, consisting of both water quality testing and a hygiene survey. The rigorous study analyzed physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters of water as well as hygiene and sanitation conditions in internally displaced persons (IDP) settlements.

Groundwater is generally poor in quality for drinking because of the extreme hardness and salinity while surface water is limited and is often turbid and contaminated. Based on a unique publicprivate partnership (PPP) and sustainable Base of the Pyramid (BoP) social business model and through innovative, cost-effective, and environmentallyfriendly technologies, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) aims to

Ground-breaking assessments

This was the first ever comprehensive assessment conducted during humanitarian assistance to the country. The assessment provided valuable knowledge as a basis for evidence-based programming not only for

IOM IN ACTION In 2012: •

Over 50,000 IDPs and members from affected host communities received safe water through 13 water tank systems 1;

•

1) Microbiological contamination prevailed in all tested water sources;

Over 82,000 IDPs and members from affected host communities participated in awareness raising campaigns organized by IOMtrained hygiene promoters for improved hygiene practice such as proper hand washing;

•

2) The risk of feacal contamination increases from water source to point of use; and

Over 700 IDPs and members from affected host communities were trained as hygiene promoters to increase awareness of good hygiene practices;

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14 WASH committees and 96 WASH committee members were supported to develop their capacity through PHAST training;

•

449 IDP hygiene promoters were trained on Children Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (CHAST) and Participatory Hygiene And Sanitation Transformation (PHAST);

•

Non-food items (NFIs) of 12,190 jerri cans, 19,275 bar soaps and 135,950 aquatabs were distributed.

IOM but also for Somalia WASH cluster partners. The survey revealed that:

3) Tested groundwater was poor in quality for drinking because of the extreme hardness and salinity while tested surface water from Juba and Shabelle rivers was turbid and and contaminated. (Read IOM Somalia’s WASH KAP research info sheet.)

As per WASH cluster’s guidelines

Delivering safe water through innovative technologies In order to reduce Acute Water Diarrhea (AWD), IOM, in partnership with local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), has been providing safe water to over 50,000 migrants and mobile populations such as IDPs. For instance, in riverine areas where water is highly turbid and WASH Cluster alerts the high risk of cholera outbreaks, IOM has been using Poly-Glu (see details on page 4) in combination with chlorination. In other areas where salinity is high, IOM is planning to pilot costeffective technologies to reduce salinity 2. IOM has placed systematic water quality monitoring systems to regularly check the water quality to make sure the water is safe, based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water. Hygiene promotion IOM well recognizes the fact that providing safe water is not sufficient in order to reduce water-borne disease. In fact, IOM places special emphasis on hygiene and

sanitation conditions. By training community hygiene promoters and enhancing the capacity of community WASH committees, IOM mobilizes communities at risk and raises awareness on safe water handling, importance and critical timings of handwashing, and waste management through household visits, campaigns, and community forums. Capacity building The ultimate goal for IOM is to build capacity for sustainable development in Somalia, therefore IOM has been avoiding direct implementation as much as possible but working closely with key stakeholders and building their technical capacities by transferring to them WASH knowledge and skills, especially on research/monitoring, safe water provision, and hygiene promotion. Trainings include water quality analysis training and Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST) trainings. Always in partnership IOM works closely with governments (Ministry of Water and District

Safe water is delivered through innovative water treatment technologies. © IOM/JICA 2012 (Photo: Fesial Omar)

coordination mechanisms (WASH and Health Clusters), the United Nations agencies (UNICEF and WHO), and international and local NGOs. In particular, IOM recognizes the importance of partnership with the WASH Cluster and thus frequently reports to and shares with the Cluster IOM’s achievements and findings.

mostly in riverine areas in Somalia 3. The typical PolyGlu water treatment system consists of three water tanks where the first tank is for Poly-Glu flocculation, the second for chlorination, and the third for storing safe water. It takes less than 90 minutes from water pumping to chlorination and provision of safe water.

Safe water provision based on public-private partnership and through innovative water treatment systems IOM uses Poly-Glu to flocculate and purify turbid and contaminated water

2 Small-scale Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane system can remove dissolved impurities from water through the use of a semi-permeable membrane. 3 IOM uses chlorination after using Poly-Glu and also does not distribute Poly-Glu to individuals or households as it does not disinfect bacteria.

“OVER 50,000 IDPs AND MEMBERS OF HOST COMUNITIES RECEIVED SAFE WATER IN 2012”

IOM is transforming safe water provision and cholera prevention in Somalia based on public-private partnership and through innovative technologies such as Poly-Glu. Poly-Glu is a cost-effective, time-saving, simple to use and handle, environmentally-friendly technology used to flocculate turbid water. Most importantly, it is much less toxic than other chemicals used to treat water, with chlorine.

These girls show off ink designs on their hands after a handwashing excercise during 2012 Global Handwashing Day celebrations at an IDP settlement in Mogadishu. On the right is Sharazad Dalel, IOM Somalia’s Health Public Health Specialist. © IOM 2012 (Photo: Musdafa Omar Aden)

Local communities fetch water from unhygienic and unsafe sources of water prior to IOM’s intervention. © IOM 2012 (Photo: SDRO)

Capacity of local non-governmental organizations to conduct water quality testing is built. © IOM 2012 (Photo: Kaoi Nakasa)

“The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is stepping up efforts to provide more water to tens of thousands of displaced Somalis.” Mr Ali Abdi, Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration, Somalia

Poly-Glu: Cost-effective, simple to use, environmentally freindly Poly-Glu is a cost-effective, time-saving, simple to use and handle, environmentally-friendly technology used to flocculate turbid water. It is much less toxic than other chemicals to treat water. It is made of organic cross-linked polyglutamic acid and inorganic substances such as calcium compounds. The comparative advantage of Poly-Glu over other available flocculants in the market is that it effectively and efficiently removes turbidity and other chemicals such as fluoride from the water while it does not affect pH. It also enables chlorination effective as fine particles and suspended solids can impede disinfection. Waste water from Poly-Glu usage contains no harmful substance.

WITH THANKS TO OUR DONORS:

WE WORK WITH: • Government • Community leaders • Mobile and migrant populations • Host communities • Private sector

MIGRATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL SOCDAALKU WAA U FAA’IIDO DADKOO DHAN

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Somalia Mission Gitanga Groove – off Gitanga Road, Lavington PO Box 1810 – 00606, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 292 6000 Email: iomsomalia@iom.int www.iom.int

MAY 2013