People who have access to basic amenities like clean water, bathrooms, and hygiene practices not only live longer; but also have a healthier start in life. Unsafe water, Poor sanitation, and improper hygiene (WASH) practices can have fatal effects on humans.

In several provinces of Afghanistan, DACAAR carries out WASH-related initiatives to support the provision of reliable sanitation and clean water and to encourage basic hygiene habits in both rural and urban communities, particularly during emergencies.

The lack of access to clean water, poor hygiene, and open defecation have been causing problems for the people living in Wakil Qayoum village in the Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province.

The residents of Wakil Qayoum village are using canal water as a source of drinking water due to the lack of safe water sources. As a result, they have been suffering from various water-borne diseases. According to doctors, unsafe drinking water is the root cause of their afflictions. Haji Khaldar, a resident of the village, expressed his concern about the lack of hygiene and the prevalence of diseases such as stomach and gastric problems due to unsafe drinking water.

DACAAR, as a beacon of hope for the residents of Wakil Qayoum village initiated the (Pipe Scheme) project to bring the gift of clean, life-sustaining water to the residents of Wakil Qayoum village in Dasht-e-Archi district, the implementation of the project will benefit 270 Families consisting of 1,890 individuals. The project has started on 12^th May 2023 and will be completed on 11^th May 2024. This project is funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre @KSRelief, through the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund #AHTF, facilitated by The Islamic Development Bank @isdb_group, and The Organization of Islamic Cooperation @OIC_OCI.

Throughout the project implementation, DACAAR has already constructed the water supply network and provided taps to 160 households, and three rounds of hygiene and sanitation awareness sessions with hygiene kits to the targeted families.

Haji Khaldar said that they were facing many difficulties due to unsafe water and lack of hygiene education, which is now addressed. “before the project implementation there was no single family that was not visiting the doctor three or four times in a month. Now after the project implementation, we have access to clean water and received messages about good hygiene practices and sanitation, which has consequently positively impacted our lives. Now we are living healthier and hygienic lives in an open defecation-free environment.”

The beneficiaries suggested that DACAAR must implement other life-sustaining projects in their area such as; the construction of schools, clinics, and roads. and to launch the women empowerment project to support vulnerable women in their area.

Written by: Israrullah Sahil