Promote the accessibility to safe drinking water, safe sanitation services and healthier environment in the most vulnerable communities in middle area and Khan Younis governorates ltpgtPalestinian environmental Friends (PEF) in close coordination with the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), WASH cluster , and Khan Younis’ WASH area focal point Action Against Hunger (AAH) proposes this action that is fully aligned with Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) 2023 strategic objective (2) and the WASH Cluster objectives (SO2) related to ensuring equitable, affordable and sustainable safely-managed access to WASH services. Through the intervention, PEF and its partner Palestinian AlNakheel Association (PAAPD) aim to improve access to sanitation services in the most vulnerable communities affected by wastewater flooding in Gaza through the installation of sewer networks and increase the knowledge at HHs’ level regard hygienic practices and flood mitigation measures. The provided services will benefit 3,844 individuals (922 men, 910 women, 1,028 boys, 984 girls) living in Alsatar locality in Khan Younis governorate. Currently, the targeted community relies on old cesspits/percolation pits, which are not well managed or carefully handled due to peoples’ vulnerable economic situation. Throughout the year, these pits are subjected to frequent flooding and continuous accumulation of wastewater, creating unsafe and unsustainable conditions, and exposing people to dangerous health risks, particularly diarrhea and skin diseases in children. The environment was also subjected to severe deterioration due to the seepage of wastewater into subsurface soil and pollution of the groundwater. In addition, the pests, vectors, and rodents’ outbreaks were frequent phenomena in this area. ltbrgtThe project activities were designed in consultation with targeted population. Through this project, PEF will construct sewer collection networks and household connections this system is the most efficient, adequate, and affordable solution, according to the Gaza context, to improve people’s access to safe sanitation and decrease their dependence on expensive or environmentally unfriendly solutions, such as in-open wastewater dumping and cesspits. The installation works of sewer collection networks will include 1) construction of different sized sewer pipelines and manholes, and 2) emptying, closing and filling of cesspits and septic tanks and reconnecting the households to the new constructed sewer system. Hence, the installation works will be implemented by qualified and expert contractor hired based on a competitive tendering process. Moreover, the action will also address critical safety, health, hygiene, and environmental issues and maintain shared responsibilities and total behavioral change practices in addition to cover the topics related to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse  (PSEA), GBV, women empowerment in decision making process and social accountability through awareness community sessions at HHs’ level. Additionally, PEF will promote community ownership, accountability, and participation in the project through orientation sessions, other community engagement activities, and in-place feedbacks, complaints and response mechanism. Finally, PEF protection officer and mobilizers will detect any protection case through field visits / awareness sessions and ensure proper referral and management with specialized agencies. ltbrgtSince 07th of October 2023, the humanitarian situation has exacerbated due to raised escalation and caused multi-faceted vulnerabilities. These challenges are going worse with every day the war continue. The life-saving interventions were needed, where availing safe drinking water for IDPs was prioritized. Thus, according to the produced saving, PEF will work to ensure accessibility of 10,666 IDPs (2,575 men, 2,577 women, 2,821 boys, 2,693 girls) to safe drinking water through trucking in western area in Deir Al Balah.lt/pgt