CRS-WASH Emergency Response in Ayilo Resettlement Area Gulu Uganda. Background:
The situation in South Sudan suddenly deteriorated in early December 2013 with the President, Salvar Kiir, accusing his ex-Vice President, Riek Machar, of attempting a coup against the government. Fighting broke out amongst the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) on December 15th2013 in Juba which spread to Jonglei and Unity States within a couple of days. 
 
A state of emergency was declared in South Sudan and a curfew set in Juba. While Uganda was already receiving South Sudanese refugees over the past two years from Jonglei state, the influx from South Sudan increased dramatically with the recent wide-spread conflict. 
 
Between December 16th and January 20th, 2014, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Office reported approximately 47,500 South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. UNHCR projects that the refugee population from South Sudan could increase up to 100,000 within the next six months if the conflict continues and the UN refugee camps in South Sudan are attacked.  
On January 23rd, an agreement on the cessation of hostilities was signed by South Sudan's warring parties. However, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and UNHCR offices report that it is still too early to know whether the conflict will end in the near future. In South Sudan, the situation remains unstable with population movements within and outside the country.
 
From January 19th through January 22nd, 2014 CRS conducted a rapid field assessment in Adjumani District.   This included key informant interviews with government officials (OPM), UNHCR Head of Field Office and WASH Program Officer, Government Health Inspector, Nyamanzi Transit Center Supervisor, Nyamanzi Transit Center Water Source Committee member and the Executive Director of the Archdiocese of Gulu Caritas. In addition, CRS conducted semi-structured interviews with refugees at Nyamanzi Transit Center as well as direct observations of Elegu Collection Center, Dzaipi Transit Center, Nyamanzi Transit Center and Resettlement Area (two separate sites), and Ayilo Resettlement Area. CRS also met with a range of other agencies in Adjumani (World Vision International, Save the Children, Red Cross, and Medicines Sans Frontières) and in Kampala (FAO, Action Against Hunger, and Oxfam) to coordinate plans and intervention strategies.  Findings from the assessment point to the fact that South Sudanese refugees in Ayilo Resettlement Area lack access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.  
 
Transit and resettlement areas: CRS learned from the UNHCR and through observation that there is dire need for more water and sanitation infrastructure in both the transit and resettlement centers. For instance, the occupied resettlement centers of Miriyei, Alere, Boroli, and Nyumanzi still have big gaps (30% coverage currently) in water and sanitation facilities. At present, refugees in transit centers receive 3.4 liters per person per day while refugees at resettlement areas receive 10 liters per person per day. The Sphere minimum standard is 15 liters per person per day. In addition, the latrines at the transit centers and resettlement areas had been constructed by the different aid organizations conducting WASH interventions.
 
From group interviews at Nyamanzi Transit Center, respondents identified the vulnerable population as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, children and the elders. The participants expressed their concern for the lack of food as they have to line up for hours, sometimes almost a day, to receive one meal. 
 
The ranked priority needs of refugees (from highest to lowest) are food, water and shelter. With regards to water-related diseases, there have been cases of diarrhea in both adults and children; however; no statistics on water-related diseases was available. The interviewed refugees reported that their houses in South Sudan were equipped with a latrine and a bathing shelter. 
 
Organizations that are trucking water in Adjumani district include MSF, UNHCR, UNICEF, DRC and WFP.  MSF is chlorinating all trucked water and is testing for free residual chlorine levels. ADRA has provided a 10,000 liter storage tank for water in Ayilo while MSF has plans to install a 30,000 liter bladder in the camp. According to the Assistant WASH Officer at UNHCR, Oxfam is expected to receive funding from UNHCR to implement WASH activities in Ayilo, although the details of these activities have not yet been finalized.  

The OPM and UNHCR offices are requesting aid agencies to provide refugees with materials to construct their own latrines and bathing shelters while NGOs are responsible for technical supervision. 
 
 CRS’ proposed WASH interventions aim to target 4,000 individuals (800 HHs) in Ayilo Resettlement Area.
 
1.This Project will support refugees to have access to safe water for their household use by rehabilitation of two existing boreholes and installation of six new boreholes to target 4,000 people.
2.This Project will also support 400 refugees households to dispose waste responsibility by distribution latrine kits, Tippy Tap kits and shower kits.
3. This project will also carry out hygiene promotion activities to encourage 4,000 refugees to adopt key hygiene behaviors.
 
These activities will be conducted by CRS with the understanding from UNHCR that other agencies, including Oxfam, will cover the WASH needs of the other individuals that will be relocated from transit centers.