EXTERNAL FINAL REPORT Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Disaster Risk Reduction Assessment AYEYARWADDY DIVISION On 05 th to 19 th February 2008 Report prepared by Sandrine Roussy - WASH/DRR Officer Need Assessment conducted by: Sandrine Roussy with the coordination of Tin Htun Win Technical program assistant and Assessment Team Action Contre la Faim – Mission Myanmar Final Report – Ayeyarwaddy Division EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Following the December 2004 Tsunami, Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has been implementing an operational research program (to sustainable improve access to drinking water for South Asia populations) in Sri Lanka in partnership with the French Red Cross and the IRD (Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement). As the initial objectives of the project (to produce knowledge, to increase access to safe drinking water for vulnerable populations, to reinforce operational capacities of local actors) could no longer be achieved following the deterioration of the Sri Lanka context with the increase of the conflict in the area of operation, the project was terminated. The research component of the project has been transferred to India until 2009, State of Bangalore, where a PHD student is conducting a research to elaborate methodologies of aquifer studies with geophysical tools. The assessment proposed by ACF for the Ayeyarwaddy Division was to evaluate for the French Red Cross (FRC) purposes, the needs of transferring the FRC Water Research tools (aquifer location) as well as to define and justify in details potential Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) component in the coastal townships of Ayeyarwaddy division, with an additional focus on mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for the water and sanitation issues only. It was based on field observations and data provided by NGOs and other actors running programs in this division. It was conducted after the monsoon, starting from 05 th to 19 th February 2008, managed by a WASH/DRR officer. Background Action Contre la Faim (ACF) conducted its first exploratory mission in Myanmar in 1993. And ACF obtained its first Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health in 1994. The initial programs aimed to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of the most vulnerable populations in Kyauktaw, Mrauk’U, and Minbya Townships of Rakhine State, through the distribution and training in the use of essential drugs. Water and sanitation programs followed these initial health programs. Action Contre la Faim expanded its programs into Northern Rakhine State to assist in the return of refugees, launching water and sanitation programs in 1995 and food security surveillance, with subsequent family food programs in 1996 and a nutrition program that opened in late 2003. Ayeyarwaddy division is located at the Southern end of the central plains of Myanmar. In North East of it there is Bago Division and in the East is Yangon Division. It is contiguous with the Rakhine State in the North West. On the Southern and Western sides there are Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. Moreover Ayeyarwaddy Division is mostly in Delta region and cross by many rivers as the Ayeyarwaddy River (2,170 km) which constitute the most important river system in Myanmar. This area, as a low-lying region, is a flood-prone area and was recently affected by severe floods. As a result tens of thousands people have been made homeless as 10,000 houses were destroyed and 40,000 acres of rice paddies were flooded. It was also the major zone in Myanmar that was affected by the 2004 Tsunami. Additionally, Ayeyarwaddy Division is strongly and frequently affected by storms and other climatic hazards. Numerous NGOs and the international institutions working on Water and Sanitation sector are present in Ayeyarwaddy Division as Merlin, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Save the Children (SC), World Vision (WV), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Mains comments of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene According to the assessment, the type of water resources used by the population are surface water (69%), groundwater (62%) and rain water (39%). The access and the use of these water resources are different according to the consumption from drinking, cooking or washing purpose, the quantity and quality of water and the socio economic situation. 2 Action Contre la Faim – Mission Myanmar Final Report – Ayeyarwaddy Division The problematic are the insufficiency of water during dry season and the quality of water that is not satisfactory. The water points are unprotected and no maintained by the community so the probability of bacteriological contamination is important. In addition there is chemical contamination as Iron, Arsenic and Chloride of Potassium (salt). During the assessment, ACF team didn’t collect analysis results from external institutions and it was not possible to analyze the water according to the Government. So the contamination was determine according to the taste of the water and the discussion with the population. In coastal area, the access to water points is controlled and in 53.8% of villages the water is not free. In 75% of case, people use open defecation. The water flush latrine is more constructed in Ayeyarwaddy division, and there is inconvenient to use it caused maintenance and cost. The latrines are not in good conditions and people cannot afford to maintain them. For personal hygiene cleanliness, bamboos stick (92.3%) leaves (15.4%) and papers (76.9%) are used. The community is not aware on waste water and garbage management. Generally community has knowledge on water born diseases, as 92% know that diarrheas is related to consumption of water unclean, and 31% know that relation exists between Malaria and stagnant water. Moreover the community has knowledge on vector control with the prevalence of flies and mosquitoes and the link with diarrhea and malaria. The community washes their hands mainly for cleanliness before eating, after eating and after defecation. 77 % of persons use only water because they cannot afford to buy soap, and it is not usual and not a priority to use soap and other products (ashes, sand, etc…) for hand washing. Mains comments of Disaster Risk Reduction At National level, Central Committee for National Disaster Prevention is formed to coordinate all stakeholders and 16 ministries to management natural disasters affecting Myanmar. Local authorities (division, district, township, village tract level) have also Committee for Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee in charge to prepare evacuation, assistance and dissemination of weather forecast to the village through radio, TV and loudspeaker. The major disaster is annual floods, and the duration can vary from 15 days to 3 months according to the area. The most affected persons are people living on the river bank and seashore. Farmers and fishermen are vulnerable according to the losses of their business. The difficulties faced are lack of food (30%), landless (8%), lack of transport (30%), unemployment (40%), Water Points flooded (40%) and increase of diseases (8%). The floods damage houses, paddy fields, boats and furnitures, latrines and water points. The roads, school and monastery are partially damaged. Concerning the evacuation, on average of 46% of family evacuated to hill land, on school and monastery. They can stay in the safe building between 15 to 1 month with access to water points (bad quality of water) but not access to sanitation. Persons don't receive external support from the local authority in term of food supply and provision of shelter. The type of disaster risk reduction set up in the village were reinforce houses, raise of animals shelter, preparation of foods, medicine and clothes before arrival of water, and construction of temporary bamboos floor under the roof of house. Summary of recommendations According to the access to coastal area and the problematic identified during the assessment, it will be better to develop program in one township as Ngapudaw. The WASH component can be integrated in the Disaster Preparedness Program, as follow: • Training on Community Based of Disaster Management • Training on First Aid, Search and Rescue • Training on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) • Writing Village Disaster Preparedness Plan 3 Action Contre la Faim – Mission Myanmar Final Report – Ayeyarwaddy Division • Set up Flood Early Warning System (communication channels, weather forecast, etc…) • Design of Hazards and Vulnerable maps • Set up Hazard, Vulnerability and Capacity assessment • Set up Disaster Risk Reduction measures at household level • Risk awareness campaign at community and school level integrating Water use, Sanitation and Hygiene component. • Construction and rehabilitation of water points resistant to disaster • Construction and rehabilitation of latrines resistant to disaster • Construction of Rain Water Collector Tank at school level • Development of safe areas with water points and latrines • Water Quality Testing: bacteriological and chemical • Creation of Committee integrating members to manage water points, to ensure cleaning in the compound, to disseminate hygiene and disaster messages, to assist people to set up DRR measures and during evacuation, etc… • Development of Home Water Treatment (ceramic, sand filters, etc…) • Technical training on water and sanitation facilities • Provision of Latrine Kits • Development of IEC Materials for water, sanitation, hygiene and disaster risks. 4 Action Contre la Faim – Mission Myanmar Final Report