Provision of emergency and resilience WASH assistance to internally displaced people, returnees, and host communities in Al Kadaha and Wahigah sites in Dhubab district, Ta'izz governorate The Yemeni conflict, now in its seventh year, has evolved into the largest humanitarian crisis in the world with currency devaluation, price increases, Covid-19 pandemic, ongoing conflict, disrupted public services leading to a dire economic crisis. As per the latest UNHCR report, over 4,3 million people were internally displaced, making this the fourth largest internal displacement crisis on the planet with 40% of these IDPs living in informal displacement sites where access to basic services is largely inadequate or non-existent. This vulnerable and forcibly displaced population are repeatedly exposed to public health risks and threats when they leave behind their homes, social networks, livelihoods, service providers and infrastructures. In addition to the food and nutrition needs, they often see their health weakened and do not have adequate access to safe water, sanitation services and often do not have the resources to maintain basic hygiene.
Moreover, the country’s instability has caused water scarcity and poor water resource management, which further worsens the provision of drinkable water in many urban and rural areas including priority districts like in Dhubab in Ta’izz. According to the HNO 2022, 17,8 million people require support to meet their basic WASH needs in the country, whereas the number of people with acute WASH needs increased by 28.7 per cent, from 8.7 million to 11.2 million people.

The effects of the war on the public infrastructure in Dhubab, including housing and the water systems, is clearly evident. The district suffers from non-functional and damaged water systems and crowding at the few water systems that are barely functional. There is very limited to no communication network in Dhubab and private generators are the main source of electrical power. The government structures are weak and unreliable. Many of the health facilities and schools have been destroyed by the war and some of them remain closed or dysfunctional.

In this context, this proposed 12-month intervention aims to provide WASH services to 3,600 most vulnerable women, girls, boys and men in two villages in Bani al Hakam sub district, Dhubab district, Tai’zz governorate, particularly in the sites of, Al Kadaha and Wahiga.

In line with the WASH Cluster and the Yemen Humanitarian Fund priorities, Solidarités International (SI) will provide a WASH comprehensive package with water supply activities designed to provide both immediate relief (i.e. water trucking) and durable solutions (i.e. rehabilitation and retrofitting of 2 existing water facilities, two developed boreholes) with solar pumping system and pipeline reticulation with storage tanks and collection points. Water management committees will be reactivated where existing or established from scratch to manage these water facilities. In addition, SI will address sanitation needs for targeted households with the provision of family latrines, tailored to local cultural norms and catering for the special needs of women and persons with disabilities. These installations will be preceded with open defecation free campaigns (ODF). 
To assure a comprehensive WASH package in spite of the budgetary constraints, SI has integrated Hygiene Promotion (HP) to accompany Water supply and Sanitation activities – Hygiene awareness and HH training coupled with distribution of threshold basic and consumable kits.

The design of this project is informed from on SI’s extensive experience, comprehensive needs assessments, has been discussed with the relevant local authorities and is fully aligned with the Allocation and the WASH Cluster priorities. Solidarites is implementing YHF grant SA 2-2011 within proximity of this proposed action. This action therefore compliments the ongoing grant activity, which in turn safeguards the gains made from the ongoing project against the precarious health conditions prevailing among the non-supported population.