Providing emergency life-saving access to safe, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to drought-affected communities in the rural areas  Baidoa district ltdiv class="" title="Page 2" style=""gtltdiv style="" class=""gtltdiv style="" class=""gtltdiv style="" class=""gtltdiv style="" title="Page 2" class=""gtltdiv class="" style=""gtltdiv class="" style=""gtltdiv class="" style=""gtltp class="" style=""gtltspan style="font-size: 14px"gtSomalia is experiencing a historic drought following several consecutive below-average rainy seasons, leading to widespread water shortages (Somalia WASH Cluster Drought Report Jan 2023). The current drought is anticipated to intensify in the coming months as GU rains are projected to be below average foreseen (March to June 2023). In addition, persistent conflict and the rising trend of AWD/Cholera are further exacerbating the WASH needs across the country. The overall risk of an outbreak of diseases in drought-affected areas is very high and could be worsened due to the protracted water crisis. With a lack of safe and adequate water, drought-induced IDPs living in crowded and unsanitary conditions in lt/spangtltspan style="font-size: 14px"gtDespite the onset of Gu rains in some parts of Somalia, the severity of drought conditions has deepened in Somalia. The current water shortage has also significantly impacted livestock and humans, particularly in the rural villages far from the main water sources. Increased breakdown of strategic boreholes across Somalia due to the high water demand. In addition, severe water shortages and inadequate access to sanitation and hygiene facilities have heightened incidences of AWD/Cholera outbreaks, especially in IDP camps and areas affected by drought and conflict due to contamination of water sources. Baidoa has been labeled as one of the locations projected to hit famine if a significant scale-up of humanitarian assistance is not made. According to the CCCM cluster, the daily arrival of new IDPs has increased from rural villages of the Baidoa districts and other parts of the Bay and Bakool region since last year.lt/spangtlt/pgtlt/divgtlt/divgtlt/divgtlt/divgtlt/divgtlt/divgtlt/divgtlt/divgtltp style="" class=""gtREADO proposes providing emergency safe, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene access to 16,800 affected individuals in Baidoa rural areas. This project will ensure urgent life-saving WASH assistance for communities affected by the drought. This will be done through the provision of emergency water services to 16,800 most drought-affected people (2800HHs) through water trucking,  hygiene promotion, distribution of hygiene kits (1200 HHs), and solid waste management in Baidoa rural areas. In addition, READO will provide sustainable access to clean water by rehabilitating and installation of Solar 2 strategic water points in Baidoa rural areas (Goof-gaduud and Ismoodnoy) of Baidoa Rural areas), capacity building for water management committees training, and community hygiene promotional activities. ltbrgtREADO is currently working in the rural areas of Baidoa, Hudur , and Buurhakaba and has a strong knowledge of the local context and developed a good rapport with the local administration and communities. READ hopes to build on this good rapport with the community to implement this project carefully in the ten months WASH project in Baidoa rural areas.lt/pgtltp style="" class=""gtltbrgtFurthermore, this places READO in a position to respond quickly to the needs of the target locations. In addition, READO has the added advantage of being an LNGO, and it implements its activities using local staff who are well aware of Somalia's inherent situation and clan dynamics. READO will ensure community engagement in all phases of the project, particularly women's participation. READO will conduct a community sensitization session on the project's scope and the expected outcome.ltbrgtlt/pgt