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Water and sanitation

Only 23% of Somalis have access to clean water. The Gu (April - June) and Deyr (October - November) rains may temporarily ease the recent extreme water shortages. Traditional catchment areas, where rainfall is collected, do not last longer than 3 months and are often contaminated. Only a bare 35% of Somalia's boreholes are estimated to be functional. Furthermore, only 48.5 % of the population have adequate excreta disposal facilities. This is due to the lack of maintenance, poor construction, or conflict-related destruction. The limited access to safe water, poor hygiene and sanitation are potential pre-curses to water-borne diseases. 

UNICEF is the lead agency in the water and sanitation sector and is active in the rehabilitation and chlorination of wells, as well as in establishing urban water systems. Several NGOs - ACF, MSF Spain and IMC just to name a few - are also active and participate in the Somalia Aid Coordination Body (SACB) Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES). WHO's main thrust in the water and sanitation sector is technical support for in-line chlorination and water-harvesting systems and water testing.

Main achievements

1. Establishment of chlorination plants at Hargeisa, Berbera and Bosaso. Water testing laboratory equipment has been supplied to four regions in the country. 
2. Provision of technical support through a full time sanitary engineer in the NW. 

Main constraints

1. Deteriorating security situation in the Central and Southern zones, limits expansion efforts into these areas
2. Water contamination at household level which is aggravated by the loss of effectiveness of residual chlorine during 
transportation in metal drums which contributes to the continued transmission of cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases in major
urban settings. 

Objective

To ensure safe water supply in urban areas