ReliefWeb

NEEDS

The rapid increase in the number of refugees threatens to overwhelm the capacity of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) and its UN and NGO support agencies to meet the basic needs of the refugees especially in the WASH sector. The Emergency WASH working group has decided to prioritise the needs of the 132,000 refugees expected to be in camps by the end of 2013. Of the 218,000 refugees expected to be in host communities; the WASH agencies will only target 10 per cent, or some 21,800 of the most vulnerable groups and those where there is a “significant increase” in the strain on local services, particularly water and sanitation.

Since the Kurdistan Regional Government’s move to open its border with Syria on Thursday (15 August), more than 50,000 Syrian nationals have the crossed the border into the Kurdistan Region. This new influx created a gap in WASH response that the Government of Kurdistan supported by the UN agencies, NGOs and the Red Crescent movement are currently addressing.

OBJECTIVES

Ensure regular access for all Syrian refugees living in camps and vulnerable population to sufficient and safe drinking water; to secure, clean and maintained sanitation and hygiene facilities in camps; and ensure access to hygiene and water use education (including hygiene kits) for all refugees.

ACTION/OUTPUTS (as per RRP5)

Refugees have access to safe drinking water in camps and in host communities

Clean, culturally and gender appropriate sanitation facilities

Safe hygiene behaviours and hygienic living conditions

KEY SEPTEMBER DEVELOPMENTS

• The humanitarian WASH community has been led by the KRG, UNICEF and UNHCR who have mobilized and deployed emergency response teams, supplies, and interventions to address the needs of the new influx of refugees. The figures in this report take into account the newly assisted refugees.

• Sector interventions for establishing long term camps have been started in three governorates of KRG. The designs proposed for long term are more sustainable and efficient, reducing