Access to water and sanitation
Why is access to clean and safe water so important? What is PAH doing to provide it?
What is the problem with access to water and sanitation?

Water is essential for every aspect of human life. Our health and physical well-being depend on its purity and accessibility. We need water not only for drinking. It is necessary for preparing meals, for practicing good personal hygiene and for keeping our households clean. Limited access to water can affect our educational and career opportunities.

 

Particularly vulnerable are internally displaced persons (IDPs), who leave their homes in search of safe shelter. Very often they must stay at places with no access to clean water, sanitation, toilets and bathrooms. In such difficult conditions, clean water is essential to prevent the spreading of serious bacterial diseases.

Where does the water shortage problem come from?

  1. Location and climate:
    Some regions of the world have limited water resources due to their geographic location. Fresh water sources may be scarce or may be too deep to be used.
  2. Lack of infrastructure:
    Many countries do not have sufficiently developed infrastructure to provide clean water to all their residents, especially in rural areas.
  3. Pollution:
    Industrial, agricultural and other economic activities, can pollute water sources. Then such water sources become unsafe for human consumption. Pollution is also the result of microorganisms in stagnant water, such as flood water. Its consumption can be very dangerous to health.
  4. Armed conflicts:
    During armed conflicts water and wastewater infrastructure is often damaged or destroyed, which hinders access to clean water in conflict areas.
  5. Mismanagement of resources:
    Overuse of water resources, such as underground aquifers (especially where water is already scarce), leads to depletion of the water supply.
  6. Climate catastrophe:
    Climate change is exacerbating the situation of lack of access to water. This is particularly acute after floods, which contaminate water sources, and during droughts, which in turn reduce them.

WHAT DOES THE POLISH HUMANITARIAN ACTION DO?

We build wells and other water take-off points, as well as toilets and latrines. We distribute hygiene kits containing the most important products (not only for men but also for women). We rebuild school toilets so that children can have adequate conditions for their education and development.

 

An important aspect of our activities is lending support to the local communities: we provide training in the repair of wells and water analysis, we train hygiene educators who are subsequently engaged in promoting effective methods for practicing good personal hygiene and disease prevention among the local communities.

 

To provide access to water and ensure sanitary safety, among other things, we:

  • supply safe drinking water (we build and repair wells and other water tanks, we deliver water with tanker lorries)
  • build and renovate toilets and bathrooms (in schools and at IDP camps)
  • help families keep their water supplies and households clean (sanitary training, hygiene kits, water purification tablets)
  • maintain good sanitary conditions at camps (we remove waste and rubbish, we distribute dustbins)

How can you help?

We know that when an unexpected disaster paralyzes a community, immediate response is paramount. Your donation is food, water, shelter and other necessities for sudden crises. Help us give a chance for a better tomorrow. Donate to PAH:

Direct donation:
Our current water and sanitation projects
Contact:
Tell us how we can operate even more efficiently. Cooperate with us. Let's work on the project together!
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