Access to safe water and sanitation

Water Infrastructure Expansion in Somalia and Syria 

To mitigate limited water access in Somalia, a new 20 m³ water tank has been successfully constructed in the village of CabdowDibile, located within the Afgooye district. The construction phase spanned less than two months. The primary objective of the facility is to secure water storage and guarantee an uninterrupted supply, eliminating the vulnerabilities associated with sudden shortages. Providing reliable access to water stabilizes daily life for the community, facilitating proper hygiene management, safe meal preparation, and a significant reduction in waterborne disease risks. Parallel infrastructure initiatives are underway in other areas facing severe water shortages, such as Syria. 

The project is funded by the Somalia Humanitarian Fund United Nations OCHA 

Enhancing Safe Water Accessibility in Remote Areas of Somalia 

The yellow jerrycans are a common sight in Somalia. Every day, women and girls carry water home in them. 

Where other solutions are not available, we deliver water by trucks. In the villages of Libsoma, CabdowDibiley, and Idimow in Afgoye District, people had to walk more than 6 kilometres to collect water! Our water trucking operation provides safe drinking water to nearly 3,800 people. 

This support means fewer illnesses caused by unsafe water and less time spent on long and often dangerous journeys to collect it. Instead, that time can be used for school, work, and caring for families.  

This project is funded by the Somalia Humanitarian Fund United Nations OCHA. 

Water Management and Community Safety in Yemen 

The Ma'rib Dam, built in the 8th century BC, was considered a true wonder of ancient engineering. 

Now, almost in its place, stands a modern dam. It serves the same purpose as the ancient one: irrigating the plains around Ma'rib, one of Yemen's most important cities. However, it also serves another purpose: ensuring the safety of nearby communities, which are largely made up of internally displaced persons. 

After repeated floods, the drainage channels became clogged with sediment and debris. This caused flooding in some areas and insufficient irrigation in others. 

We are cleaning these channels, and we involved the local community members. Of course, before work could begin, safety issues had to be discussed! 

The project is funded by the EU International Partnerships.  

Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction Through Local Partnerships in Yemen 

Yemen is one of the countries affected not just by ongoing civil war but also climate change. Every year we can see the devastating effects of torrential rains, strong winds and heatwaves. 

We are able to work with local partners and authorities to maximise the scope of our response in Yemen. Thanks to that, in Al-Khasif area of Ma'rib we chose 6.08 kilometers of the 180 kilometers-long canal which we will clean in July-August 2026. 

It is crucial because the canal lacks protective barriers, which leads to accumulation of dirt, garbage, sand and stones. During heavy rains, this accumulation can cause water overflow and destruction of shelters, farms, as well as loss of crops and livestock. 

This is a part of larger response that includes also construction of gabion wall, fences and bridges in this area. The project is co-financed by the European Union. 

Emergency Water Distribution in the Gaza Strip 

We partnered in the water provision project in the Gaza Strip with UNRWA. 

Water is poured into special jerrycans, but when they are in short supply (or when the 25-liter tank is too heavy to lift), it can be carried in small bottles. Anything can be used to increase water supply for the day. 

Residents of a former school in Deir al-Balah that has been converted into a shelter list water as one of the three things they need most, right next to food and privacy. 

The water we delivered in partnership with UNRWA reached over 100,000 residents of the devastated Gaza Strip – daily! In a place where the whole water infrastructure had been destroyed, it was the only source of clean water. 

Links:

• Polish Humanitarian Action Facebook