Afghanistan WASH Cluster Detail Operational Plan - HRP 2017
Publisher: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Date: 2017
Topics: Basic Services, Gender, Humanitarian Assistance, Renewable Resources
Countries: Afghanistan
According to UNICEF-WHO joint monitoring report 2015, 68 percent of Afghans don’t have access to improved sanitation and nearly 15 million, 45 percent use unimproved water sources. The provinces with higher intensity of conflicts are also the ones with poor WASH indicators (ALCS 2014). Safe hygiene behaviours like handwashing with soap is practiced by less than 30% of people in 24 out of 34 provinces (ALCS). As a result disease like diarrhoea that has strong association with chronic malnutrition among children is a matter of concern.
In 2016 conflicts have further intensified resulting in unprecedented levels of displacement. Additionally, 2016 also saw influx of returnees from abroad, especially from Pakistan and the trend is expected to increase in 2017, especially from 1st of March when UNHCR opens its encashment centre for documented returnees. Most of the newly displaced population are settling in areas /communities already hosting large numbers of prolonged IDPs/returnees which is putting undue pressure on already limited and dilapidated water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. Such conditions are pushing affected population (including host communities) to use unimproved water sources and practice risky behaviours like open defecation.