WASH Project Proposal for Barmal district of Paktika  
 Province Afghanistan has experienced severe drought conditions. The extreme depletion of water resources is a major factor in the crisis-level food insecurity and poverty. The tragic earthquake that occurred in June of last year, which claimed over 1000 lives and destroyed the majority of supplies of safe drinking water, has made the issue of access to clean water even more problematic.
Nowadays, individuals utilize water from public ponds that are used for both humans and animals because they lack access to clean water. These ponds aren't even available in some places, so people are forced to move to areas with enough water for them and their families.
Considering the WASH cluster objective "providing safe and clean drinking water and sanitation for the community to preserve their lives," the project's goal is to make safe drinking water available to the residents of the drought and earthquake-affected areas.
According to the evaluation report created by the ACHRO field team, the WASH initiatives are the community's top priority in the Dangar lagad zone. Data from the WASH dashboard shows that just 7.6.5 million of the 10.4 million persons who would need services up to end of June 2022 will actually receive services. Among the provinces, Paktika province received top priority in the 2021 strategic action plan. Observing data from reports, we discovered that this province has not engaged in any WASH-related activity, hence we believe there is an urgent need for WASH activities in this province particularly in the Barmal district of Paktika province. 
With the aid of WASH humanitarian assistance, the project seeks to build 15 new solar pump-based tube wells in 14 communities that will supply 2949 vulnerable families (13150 people) with safe and clean drinking water. 
In the target villages, ACHRO suggests offering a mix of water supply, sanitation, and hygiene promotion programs. The activities will comprise: 1. Availability of clean drinking water 2. Creating a water supply system 3. Promoting household water treatment 4. Promoting hygiene with a focus on handwashing 5. Building toilets for sanitation and 6. WASH for elderly and disabled people to reduce the risk of GBV. In light of the current circumstances, it is essential to offer immediate assistance to those living in earthquake- and drought-affected areas.

To meet the need for a sufficient and safe water supply, 15 new wells will be established. 876 individuals will have access to each water point. Placement of water points within the communities will reduce the burden on women and girls, who currently spend on average more than 20 minutes one-way to reach a water point. The continued functioning of the water points will be managed through local volunteer mechanics, who will be identified and trained in the operation and maintenance of the water systems, and through local caretakers. Awareness sessions will promote both sanitation and hygiene awareness and practices leading to health risk reduction. construct 40 latrines with conducting 350 hygiene promotion sessions will focus on diarrhea prevention strategies, discouraging open defecation, critical times to wash hands with soap, menstrual hygiene management, and safe household water treatment. The most vulnerable 2949 families will receive hygiene kits. During kit distributions, orientation on the correct utilization of the items in the kits will take place. ACHRO will mainstream cross-cutting issues such as Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, PSEA, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), protection, gender, age, and disability and is an important requirement for WASH humanitarian response project. 
The proposed project will target Earthquake affected communities of highest needs around the Barmal District of Paktika for an emergency WASH support. The project, implemented directly by the ACHRO, continuing recent and long-standing interventions in these areas aligned with the AHF 2nd RASP.