EJM WASH response The proposed emergency project is based on the findings of two recent interagency missions carried out in East Jebel Marra, South Darfur State: in Deribat, Jabra and Kidineer villages (10-15 September 2017) and Leiba village (25-27 September 2017). The targeted areas were made recently accessible to humanitarian actors. From the interagency needs assessment findings, pressing needs for water coverage, sanitation and hygiene in the targeted locations were identified. Given the fact that IOM will conduct a large WASH intervention in Deribat and Belle El Sereif funded under CERF, Mercy Corps' proposed intervention will focus on gaps in WASH coverage in other identified villages including Deribat, Leiba, Kidineer and Jawa.

The project aims to address the critical WASH needs in EJM among returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) facing long-term displacement, and vulnerable host community members, targeting an estimated 39,974 direct beneficiaries. Targeted villages include in Deribat (Suru, Abu horaira, Jerto, Telwa, Adie and Jurtuga) in Leiba (Kankoli, Kaila, and Jasso) in Kidineer (Jabar B) and in Jawa (Sony and Barta). Within these extremely vulnerable communities, particular attention will be given to the following households (HH): HH headed by women as the only breadwinner for the family, 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 most vulnerable HH in these targeted localities are already suffering from shortages of water and a weak sanitation infrastructure, leading to poor hygiene. This has been further exacerbated by the influx of returnees.

Efforts will be made to provide beneficiaries in the targeted localities access to more than 10 l/p/d safe drinking water through community-based operation, maintenance, and management of water resources based on cost recovery system through water user fees. This will ensure sustainability, community ownership and enhance community resilience. Using the existing structure of local WASH committee established under MC's current OFDA funded program, an additional 5 committees will be established with gender balance and youth representation 13 non-functional hand pumps will be rehabilitated 8 hand pumps will be drilled, 5 non-functional water systems will be rehabilitated and upgraded to hybrid solar power and 10 water distribution points created and protected.

To address sanitation needs, 959 priority emergency household latrines for new arrivals will be constructed using CLTS techniques. In addition, 18 school latrines and accompanying hand washing stations will be set up to ensure coverage of adolescent populations. All targeted beneficiaries will have access to adequate sanitation (1 latrine for 20 persons). In addition, 16 community cleaning campaigns will be conducted. 

To promote hygiene in the newly accessible villages, 12 PHAST workshops on PHAST for total of 300 female community hygiene promoters and 576 community hygiene promotion and sensitization campaigns conducted. 1000 hygiene kits will be distributed to the most vulnerable households.