Emergency WASH Intervention for Newly Accessible Communities in East Jebel Marra - Deribat (Envelope 1) The proposed project aims to address the continued critical water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs of the newly accessible population, including the vulnerable host communities and IDPs in East Jebel Marra (EJM), South Darfur. The project will target an estimated 15,580 beneficiaries in the Deribat administrative unit. Targeted villages include: Tayba, Turgengy, Fodana, Kery, Wiri, Deribat, Marra Tabeldia, Suigo, Katoor, Tary Aridba. The most vulnerable HH in these targeted localities are already suffering from shortages of water and a weak sanitation infrastructure, leading to poor hygiene. Within these extremely vulnerable communities, particular attention will be given to the following households (HH): female headed HH, HH with pregnant women and lactating mothers, HH with children under the age of five, HH with malnourished children, and HH with people with disabilities and elderly people. The selection criteria will be set in coordination with the community traditional leaders. 

EJM has been the site of conflict between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and Darfur rebel groups. Since 2010, much of EJM has remained largely inaccessible to humanitarian actors due to government restrictions and insecurity. The introduction of new directives by the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in late 2016 and the improved security environment has seen access restrictions ease. The findings of an interagency needs assessment carried out in EJM from 10-15 September 2017 highlighted that Deribat is one of the most conflict-affected areas in EJM, with an estimated 105,000 individuals residing in 46 villages requiring immediate humanitarian assistance. The assessment found that poor health awareness and hygiene practices, lack of health and nutrition services, poverty and the high cost of healthcare are affecting the nutrition of children. 

The need for humanitarian action was also supported by the results of a rapid assessment conducted by Mercy Corps (MC) on 12 February 2018, which found that about 21,780 people are in need of immediate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance. The intervention proposed will aim at increasing timely and equitable access to safe WASH services to 15,580 individuals (6,076 women, 5,609 men, 2,804 girls and 1,091boys) emergency affected populations in Deribat. The project will focus on life saving interventions via provision of safe water (rehabilitation and drilling of hand pumps, upgrading of hand pumps into solar systems, and water treatment), construction of household latrines and distribution of hygiene NFIs. 

As part of the project, MC will complete the following activities: 
 Complete a general feasibility assessment of the existing water points functionality and a community ability/willing to pay water user fee survey.
 Repair and rehabilitate eight existing non-functional hand pumps.
 Drill six new boreholes, three of which will be upgraded to solar power systems, hand pumps will be installed at the other three.
 Support the development of a main spare part supply chain for hand pumps.
 Establish and train ten WASH committees on water management. 
 Train 18 water operators on the operation and maintenance of water systems.
 Train 30 hand pump mechanics in hand pump rehabilitation and maintenance. 
 Monitor water quality at water systems in the targeted locations. 

The project will benefit a total of 15,580 IDPs and vulnerable members of the host community. The intervention will have a significant impact on the reduction of waterborne preventable diseases and prevent the occurrence of disease outbreaks, acute watery diarrhea (AWD) in particular.