Provision of Sustainable WASH services to the drought-affected communities in Ghor and Farah Provinces. The 2022 Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) aims to reach 22.1 million individuals across the country with essential life-saving humanitarian and protection assistance. "Timely, multi-sectoral, lifesaving, equitable, and safe support is delivered to crisis-affected persons of all genders and diversities to reduce death and morbidity," says the HRP's strategic objective 1. Multiple issues confronting Afghans, including La Nia-induced weather abnormalities, political transition, economic depression, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, are worsening millions of Afghans' pre-existing needs and vulnerabilities. 
A national drought was officially declared in June 2021, the worst for more than three decades. 80 percent of the country is now suffering either severe or serious drought. This historic drought with exceptionally low precipitation below normal in 2020-2021 has added to a long silent crisis. Findings from the 2021 WoA confirmed drought as the third most frequently reportedly experienced shock with 39 percent of all households, reporting so. More specifically, the west was one of the hardest-hit areas with 94 percent of households in Farah, and 86 percent in Ghor province.
In addition, poor hygiene conditions have much contributed to communicable diseases throughout the country, and the covid-19 outbreak has further deteriorated preexisting WASH needs since 2020. Lack of access to basic hygiene supplies and sanitation has placed communities at heightened risk of acute respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases specifically for children under five. 
To respond to the worse WASH situation, AABRAR recently conducted a rapid assessment to know the living condition of vulnerable HHs in the targeted conflict and drought-affected communities of Farah and Ghor. The assessment has used the FGDs approach for the collection of data and has completed an in-depth analysis of WASH needs. 600 participants (80% male, 20% female) and key informants have participated in the assessment among the key informants, 7% were persons with disabilities. The assessment findings show, that situation of WASH needs further deteriorated since the beginning of 2021, several communities in the targeted hard-to-reach areas are in dire need of WASH services, they don’t have enough soft water for drinking, and their existing water facilities either damaged, broken or dried. Hygiene is also a challenge, the targeted population does not observe hygiene practice due to their weak financial position and poor hygiene education.
To respond to this worse situation, as part of this proposed project, AABRAR will provide lifesaving WASH support to a total of 61,320 affected people (18,396 women, 18,396 men, 12,264 girls, 12,264 boys) in the targeted communities of districts Dowlatyar, Pasaband, Ferozkoh and Farah of Ghor and Farah provinces. The major activities under this intervention will be as follows.

1) provision of safe water for drinking, washing, and personal hygiene through the construction of 35 boreholes fitted with hand-pumps, construction of 8 boreholes with the solar operating system, and repair of 45 broken and non-functional water-wells in the targeted locations.
2) Distribution of 6,000 hygiene kits to the most vulnerable people with the aim to promote good hygiene practices.
3) Along with the distribution of hygiene kits distribution, hygiene education will be provided to the targeted affected communities, which will cover key topics including covid-19, personal hygiene, safe water transport, and storage as well as handwashing with antiseptic soap.