Unicef to help rehabilitate water, sanitation in AJK: Rs 493 million agreement signed

Under a new agreement worth Rs 493 million, the United Nations International Children's Fund (Unicef) and the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have partnered to rehabilitate rural water supply system and improve sanitation in earthquake affected areas of AJK.
The agreement was signed by Umer Abidi of Unicef and Sakhi-ul-Zaman, Secretary, local government, AJK.
According to the agreement, Unicef will provide supplies, technical assistance and other support to the Local Government and Rural Development Department (LG&RDD) of AJK Government.
Majority of water supply and sanitation systems in AJK (both rural and urban) were badly damaged or destroyed by the October 8 earthquake. This poses serious public health threat to the affected areas in terms of access, quantity and quality of water and access to adequate sanitation facilities.
Under the agreement, over 100,000 people in affected rural areas will be ensured safe drinking water supply by making 200 water supply systems operational. Following an assessment to identify and prioritise damaged water supply and sanitation systems in Neelum, Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Poonch districts, the LG&RDD will repair and reconstruct the damaged infrastructure with technical support and supplies provided by Unicef.
The repaired systems will be handed over to communities for operation and maintenance. In addition, some 50,000 people in Chanari, Hatian Balla, Chikar, Ghari Dopatta, and Authmuqam will benefit after the operationalisation of the water and sanitation systems of these five towns.
Benefiting 150,000 people, the project will promote household level water treatment options, including through the distribution of home water purification methods and demonstrations on their use in rural areas where no water supply system is available or water is of poor quality.
Awareness will be created on water quality issues, including protection of water sources. Community based water quality testing and sanitary inspection mechanisms will be set up. Some 50,000 latrines will be constructed in schools, mosques, camps, health centres, and at household level in rural areas supplies will be provided by Unicef.
Another 10,000 pit latrines will be constructed in selected camps, where solid waste management and water delivery and quality in the camps will also be addressed.
Hygiene promotion will motivate people in the camps and rural areas to adopt improved sanitation options and hygiene practices. Low cost sanitation options will be promoted in these towns, including camps, through the construction of 7,500 pit latrines at schools and health centres for demonstrations. A series of training programs will be conducted to build the capacity of field staff to promote these activities.