Rapid Assessment Report

WASH Rapid Assessment Report in 3 Districts (Bala Boluk, Anar Dara and Bakwa) of Farah, 3 Districts (Mohammad Agha, Sarkh, Kharwar) of Logar and 3 Districts (Said Karam, Zazi, Janikhel) of .

January 2021

Presented By: AABRAR

Presented To: WASH Cluster

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Introduction: Across the country, WASH systems have faced underinvestment and disruption, which in turn generates complex needs that only worsen the burden on the health system. While estimates of the country’s population have almost doubled over the last twenty years, safe drinking water coverage in Afghanistan Continues to be limited and is still among the lowest in the world. Decades of conflict and repeated sudden onset natural disasters have damaged the limited infrastructure that does exist. The 73 per cent of the population who live in rural areas are the most affected by the lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services, where open defecation is still widespread and hand washing with soap at critical times is infrequently practiced. Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) appears at high rates among infants, especially among households headed by women and people with a disability. In addition, households headed by a person with a disability may face higher hygiene needs, as only 58 per cent report having sufficient quantities of water for handwashing (compared to 67 per cent of other households). Refugees reported particularly high sanitation needs that could put already vulnerable groups at greater risk amid the second wave of COVID-19, further disrupting the already-strained healthcare system. Limited access to water, sanitation and hygiene threatens people’s immediate survival and health, as well as their dignity and living conditions. Inability to access adequate WASH services is strongly associated with malnutrition among children. Limited water and sanitation options expose people to avoidable diseases, such as AWD, which have particularly detrimental implications for the wellbeing of children, especially if they are malnourished. With almost one in two children being acutely malnourished, susceptibility to such water- borne and sanitation-related diseases can lead to excess mortality. With the COVID-19 pandemic still impacting every corner of the country, lack of access to water, as well as hygiene materials and practices, is directly contributing to the spread of the virus, leading to infections and deaths. Poor access to water and sanitation is also an indication of poor living standards and is associated with critical protection concerns as time spent fetching water, almost always by women and girls, exposed them to GBV risks. Farah, Logar and Paktia provinces are located in the West, Central and South-Eastern Regions of Afghanistan respectively – all the mentioned provinces have been eye witnessed severe armed conflict between Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and AGEs in the recent 5 years. The public service delivery, livelihood, health, water, sanitation and hygiene issues are further deteriorated across the mentioned provinces. AABRAR conducted water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) rapid assessment in 3 Hard to Reach (HTR) districts of each targeted province from January 2 to 10, 2021– and in district five villages were targeted as specified in the below table.

S/N Province District Village Name 1 Shiwan 2 Grani 3 Bala Bolak Dehzak 4 Kanisak 5 Farah Rod 6 Anar Dara 7 Qalata Alam Khan 8 Farah Anar Dara Qalata Sadat 9 Bajok Sadka 10 Taghab 11 Shatoran 12 Dewalak 13 Bakwa Joi Safaid 14 Jarbak 15 Chocha 2 | P a g e

1 Hoza Qila Nawab 2 Aab Josh 3 Zar Sang 4 Aab Josh Payan 5 Charkh Kata Sang 6 Moghal Kheel 7 Sorkh Abad 8 LOGAR Muhammad Agha Deh Mohammad Agha 9 Safaid Sang 10 Kotab Khel 11 Khwaja Angor 12 Safaidar 13 Panch Pain 14 Badar Wal 15 Kharwar Karizgi 1 Kandar Khil 2 Chino Kalay 3 Sayed Karam Khar Nikhil 4 god kala 5 Lwar Kalay 6 Lar Liwani 7 Gul Ghondai 8 Paktia Zazi Kotki 9 Qala Shareef 10 Khair Maina 11 Rabat 12 Star kalay 13 Jani-Khil Orgoor 14 Dangar Kalay 15 Bakhti

The assessment was initiated based on information received from government officials and neighboring residents. The objectives of the assessment were to characterize WASH conditions in the targeted locations, quantify the level of negative health impacts due to possible poor WASH conditions and recommend WASH activities to cope with negative health impacts. The assessment consisted of Focus Group Discussions and Site Observations. The assessment found that the conditions in all five survey areas did not meet multiple Sphere minimum standards and indicators: AABRAR is going to provide WASH services for most vulnerable families including conflict affected and natural disaster affected IDPs (new and protracted) and most vulnerable host communities members through provision of wash, sanitation and hygiene activities in the targeted hart to reach locations.

Methodology of data collection AABRAR had established 3 teams, one for each province for conducting focus groups discussion. Each Focus Group Discussion consists of 3 to 10 leaders from each CDC. First, they are asked to make a list of every village in the CDC, and show their locations on a hand-drawn 3 | P a g e map. Then, the leaders are asked to provide WASH issues in the targeted villages. In addition, the team members were trained and questionnaire for data collections was shared. A total of 21 Focus Groups Discussion were conducted in all three targeted provinces and the key findings for each province and its respective districts and villages are stated below.

Assessment key findings The rapid assessment found that water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in all Targeted areas did not meet multiple Sphere standards and indicators.

Farah Province: Villages Dehzak, Shiwan, Farah Rod and Kanisak of Bala Boluk District – Villages Anar Dara, Taghab, Qalata Alam Khan, Qalata Sadat of Anar Dara District – and Villages of Shatoran, Joi Safaid, Chocha and Dewalak of Bakwa District has the highest levels of WASH-related risk factors, due to lack of latrines, high degree of open defecation, and presence of animal faeces near water sources. Fifty percent of the households did not have a sufficient number of latrines, 75% have open defecation near living spaces and within abandoned structures – 70% have animal faeces located within meters of their water sources. Also, about 60% of the wells were not in use due to broken pumps. In addition, the following Schools and clinics has water, sanitation and hygiene issues due to broken pumps, open latrines, unavailability of soap and other hygiene materials which put thousands of school children, patients, 5 children and other schools and clinics staff at high risks.

Village WASH Issues in Schools and Clinics District Name Schools Clinics Mula Usman Neka High School, Shiwan Primary Shiwan School, Nawi Dakht Primary School Shiwan Clinic Pain Village High School, Shaheed Multan Pahalwan primary School, Agriculture High Bala Bolak Grani School Grani Clinic Dehzak Shaheed Abdul Sittar High School Da Gazak Clinic Kanisak Kanisak High School for boys and girsls Kanisak Clinic Farah Rod Farah Rod Middle School Farah Rod Clinic Anar Dara Khwaja Sahib High School, Anar Dara Darul Primary health Anar Dara Moalimeen, Hazrat Ha Darul Uloom Clinic Qalata Alam Zahkan girls and boys high school, Namrat Zahkan Primary Anar Dara Khan Zahkan Primary School Health Clinic Primary Health Qalata Sadat Qalat Alam Khan boys and girls high school Clinic Bajok Sadka Qalat Sadaat primary School Taghab Taghab primary school Shatoran primary Shatoran Shatooran Primary School health clinic Dewalak Dewalak Primary School Bakwa Joi Safaid Joi Safaid Primary School Jorbak Primary Jarbak Qalandar Abass primary School Health Clinic Chocha Primary Chocha Sultan Bakwa primary school Health Clinic

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Recommended Activities for Farah: The following water, sanitation and hygiene activities are recommended for targeted locations in .

1- Installation of 4 Bore-Wells, each with 10000 Ltr. Water tank and Solar Operating System (One for each of Mulla Osman Neka High School, Qalat Alam Khan Boys and Girls High School, Anar Dara Primary Health Clinic and Shiwan Primary Health Clinic. 2- Installation of 20 water hand pumps in most vulnerable areas including some high risk school and clinics as stated above 3- Distribution of safe drinking water for households and families have low or rare safe drinking water through 3 water tankers, one for each targeted district. 4- Distribution of water purifying tablets or sachets by involving trained volunteer for household water treatment to 4,000 needy and conflict affected people for period of six months. 5- Provision/construction of 50 gender appropriate emergency latrine and bathrooms to protect the health and dignity of the most vulnerable families and households in the targeted villages of three districts. 6- Distribution of 450 hygiene and dignity kits among most vulnerable women and girls in order to restore their dignity, protection and respond covid-19 pandemic effectively in three targeted districts 7- Conducting emergency hygiene promotion activities including awareness sessions, distribution of safe hygiene pictorial messages in order to ensure beneficiaries health and cope with current covid-19 pandemic.

Logar Province: Similarly, villages Kata Sang, Hoza Qila Nawab, Aab Josh and Zar Sang of – Kotab Khel, Sofaid Sang and Moghal Kheel of Muhammad District – and Safaidar, Pach Pain, Badar wal, Khwaja Angor Karizgi of Kharwar Districts has also the highest levels of WASH related risk factors due to high degree of open defecation, low number of latrines and most of their existing latrines had open vaults, low water usage and high potential for contamination of its spring and wells. Also, people have very rare information and knowledge of hygiene and its proper usage. Similarly, as per the information acquired from the CDCs, about 40% of the households and families did not have sufficient number of latrines – 60% have open defecation near living spaces, 50% fave animal faeces located within meters of their water sources, and also 50% of the wells were not in use due to broken pumps.

In addition, the following Schools and clinics has water, sanitation and hygiene issues in the targeted villages of due to broken pumps, open latrines, unavailability of soap and other hygiene materials which put thousands of school children, patients, 5 children and other schools and clinics staff at high risks. WASH Issues in Schools and Clinics District Village Name Schools Clinics Hoza Qila Nawab Hoza Qila Primary School Aab Josh Aab Josh High School Aa Josh Primary health Clinic Zar Sang Zar Sang primary School Aab Josh Payan Primary health clinic Charkh Kata Sang Kata sang primary school Primary health clinic Moghal Kheel Moghal Kheil primary school Primary health clinic Sorkh Abad Sorkhabad primary school Muhammad Deh Mohammad Mohammad Agha primary Agha Agha Mohammad Agha High School health clinic Safaid Sang Safaid Sang primary School Primary health clinic Kotab Khel kotab khel primary school 5 | P a g e

Khwaja Angor primary health Khwaja Angor khwaja Angoor High School clinic Safaidar safaidar primary school Panch Pain panch wal primary school Primary health clinic Badar Wal badar wal primary school Kharwar Karizgi Karizgi primary school Primary health clinic

Recommended Activities for Logar: The following water, sanitation and hygiene activities are recommended for targeted locations in Logar Province.

1- Installation of 20 water hand pumps in most vulnerable areas including some high risk schools and clinics as stated above 2- Distribution of safe drinking water for households and families have low or rare safe drinking water through 3 water tankers, one for each targeted district. 3- Distribution of water purifying tablets or sachets by involving trained volunteer for household water treatment to 4,000 needy and conflict affected people for period of six months. 4- Provision/construction of 50 gender appropriate emergency latrine and bathrooms to protect the health and dignity of the most vulnerable families and households in the targeted villages of three districts. 5- Distribution of 450 hygiene and dignity kits among most vulnerable women and girls in order to restore their dignity, protection and respond covid-19 pandemic effectively in three targeted districts. 6- Conducting emergency hygiene promotion activities including awareness sessions, distribution of safe hygiene pictorial messages in order to ensure beneficiaries health and cope with current covid- 19 pandemic.

Paktia Province Likewise, villages Chino Kalay, Kandar Khil, lwar kalay, god kala of Said Karam District – Lar Liwani, Gul Khondai, Kotki, Khair Maina, Qala Shareef of District Zazi – and villages Rabat, dangar, bakhti Orgoor and Star Kalay of District Jani Khil has also the high level of WASH related risks due to high degree of open defecation, low water usage, no or very minor usage of hygiene, very low knowledge of hygiene and its importance of usage, low number of latrines and most of latrines have open vaults, dirty water container, very now number of hand pump or other portable water, people specifically women visit about 1 KM distance for brining water from springs. Similarly, as per the information acquired from the CDCs, about 80% of the households and families did not have sufficient number of latrines – 85% have open defecation near living spaces, 70% fave animal faeces located within meters of their water sources. In addition, the following Schools and clinics has water, sanitation and hygiene issues in the targeted villages of Paktia province due to no water-pumps, open latrines, unavailability of soap and other hygiene materials which put thousands of school children, patients, 5 children and other schools and clinics staff at high risks.

WASH Issues in Schools and Clinics District Village Name Schools Clinics Kandar Khil kandar primary school Primary health clinic Chino Kalay Chino Primary School chino primary health clinic Khar Nikhil khar nikhil primary school Sayed Karam Kod Kala Primary Health god kala Kod kala High School Clinic Lwar Kalay Lwar kalay primary school 6 | P a g e

Larlino Primary Health Lar Larlino larlino primary school Clinic Gul Ghondai Gul Ghondai Girls High School Primary health clinic Zazi Kotki Kotki primary school Primary health clinic khair khana primary health Qala Shareef Qala Shareef primary school clinic Khair Maina khair maina primary school Rabat Rabat High School for boys Rabat Primary Health Clinic Star kalay Star kalay primary school Jani-Khil Orgoor Orgoor primary school Primary health clinic Dangar Kalay Dangar Primary School Primary health clinic Bakhti Bakhti Primary School Primary health clinic

Recommended Activities for Paktia: The following water, sanitation and hygiene activities are recommended for targeted locations in Paktia Province.

1- Installation of 2 Bore-Wells, each with 10000 Ltr. Water tank and Solar Operating System (One for each of Rabat High School and Rabat Primary Health Clinic. 2- Installation of 20 water hand pumps in most vulnerable areas including some high-risk school and clinics as stated above 3- Distribution of safe drinking water for households and families have low or rare safe drinking water through 3 water tankers, one for each targeted district. 4- Distribution of water purifying tablets or sachets by involving trained volunteer for household water treatment to 4,000 needy and conflict affected people for period of six months. 5- Provision/construction of 50 gender appropriate emergency latrine and bathrooms to protect the health and dignity of the most vulnerable families and households in the targeted villages of three districts. 6- Distribution of 450 hygiene and dignity kits among most vulnerable women and girls in order to restore their dignity, protection and respond covid-19 pandemic effectively in three targeted districts 7- Conducting emergency hygiene promotion activities including awareness sessions, distribution of safe hygiene pictorial messages in order to ensure beneficiaries health and cope with current covid- 19 pandemic.

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