Water and sanitation are critical for survival in the initial stage of a disaster. People affected by disaster are generally much more susceptible to illness and death from disease, which are related to a large extent to inadequate sanitation, inadequate water supply and poor hygiene.

The main objective of water supply and sanitation of Ethiopia programme in the three camps of Jigjiga is to reduce the transmission of faeco-oral disease and exposure to disease-bearing vectors, through the promotion of good hygiene practices, the provision of safe drinking water and the reduction of environmental health risks.

Simply providing sufficient water and sanitation facility will not, on its own, ensure their optimal use or impact on public health. In order to achieve the maximum benefit from a response, it is imperative to ensure that disaster ¡Vaffected people have the necessary information, knowledge and understanding to prevent water and sanitation related disease, and to mobilise their involvement in the design and maintenance of those facilities.

In order to address the basic right of target communities DRC WASH programme has commenced water supply project for Kebri-beyah hosting community from which 1250 households are benefiting from. Among the activities of the programme construction of family and communal latrines from which more than 340 households are benefiting. On top of that there is also Non-food Items (NFI) distribution including plastic barrels, plastic Jerry cans, buckets and dust bins.

Moreover hygiene promoters and community gate keepers are trained on Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST) approach so that bad hygiene practice is changed into good one.

Objective of Ethiopia WASH programme
The main objective of water supply and sanitation of Ethiopia programme in the three camps of Somali refugees hosted by Jigjiga zone of Somali region is:

• To reduce the transmission of faeco-oral disease and exposure to disease-bearing vectors through the promotion of good hygiene practices.
• To help both refugees and hosting communities so that safe and equitable access to a sufficient quantity of water for drinking, cooking and domestic hygiene to be attained.

Target beneficiaries
Ethiopia WASH project targets both refugees and hosting communities from three districts of Jigjiga zone Somali region. Target households are identified with collaboration of respective WASH committees upon agreed criteria set before identification.

About 2,750 households were beneficiaries of WASH programme for 2010. As per the impact assessment of WASH 2010 the average family size is 8 persons per household, making the total numbers of the beneficiaries around 22,000 people.