Water: a serious challenge

Trapped between two seas, one Red and the other Dead, Jordan is three-quarters desert. This small Middle-Eastern country is one of the most affected by water scarcity in the world. In recent years, this chronic shortage has worsened in the northern governorates, due to the sharp increase in population since the beginning of the Syrian crisis.

Existing sanitation networks are often more than 30 years old and are suffering the consequences of their lack of maintenance and repair. Because of poor management and lack of infrastructure, up to 60% of Jordan’s water is lost within communities, notably through leakage. Some communities receive water only once every two weeks, and some households lack the space to store it when it eventually arrives. This situation leads to an increase in costs that is difficult to manage for people with limited financial resources.

These issues in service delivery and capacity, along with pre-existing financial constraints have been exacerbated by the influx of refugees. The deterioration of services prevents many vulnerable Syrian and Jordanian households from accessing water at an affordable price.

Strengthening existing services

In the Irbid governorate, Action against Hunger’s work aims to alleviate some of these pressures by improving access to water and sanitation services. The proposed solutions aim to increase the resilience of refugees and host communities by optimizing water use and increasing network capacity. These activities reduce the amount of water lost, maximize water reuse and increase household storage capacity.

With a focus on equity and peace, our action targets in priority the most vulnerable households, both Syrian or Jordanian. In the most disadvantaged households, our teams rehabilitate or improve installations using technologies that save water, prevent leaks and reuse grey water.

This is the first year we can wash ourselves with hot water
Mustafa
Jordan

In 66 year old Syrian refugee Mustafa’s home, everything had to be done. We linked the house to the water network, installed a tank, toilet and sink in the bathroom, a sink and lights in the kitchen, and finally a water heater to provide hot water in the winter.

“Our gas bottle now lasts much longer and we are saving money” – Mustafa

Raising awareness on wastage

To ensure impact in the long term, hygiene promotion and water conservation awareness sessions are organized in the communities. These activities take place at the community level through door-to-door visits, group sessions or public campaigns.

“We teach them to adopt better practices, conserve water and reuse greywater, and make the most of the amount of water they currently have. ” – Safia, Awareness Officer

The objective is to raise awareness of the fact that Jordan has a limited supply in renewable and affordable water, and to match water use habits at home with the country’s water shortage.

Build and maintain infrastructure

Action Against Hunger is one of the main contributors to access to water, sanitation and hygiene in the Azraq refugee camp. In this desert area, everything had to be created: tanks, water networks, water points, showers, latrines. All these facilities are necessary for life and health, but also for the dignity and daily tasks of the more than 35,000 Syrians living there.

Several years later, the main mission is now to ensure the sustainability of these essential services through the management of the operation and maintenance of the sanitary blocks, the organization of awareness sessions on the theme of water.

In total, we trained more than 430 women volunteers who now volunteer to relay awareness messages to their communities.

“We sit down together to discuss water conservation, hygiene measures, handwashing… It is important in a camp because we are in an environment conducive to the spread of disease, so we must protect ourselves. ” – Shadia, camp resident. Our teams also work in UNICEF centres to raise awareness among children on these issues.

Unfortunately, the water, sanitation and hygiene sector faces a lack of funding, increasing each year, making it difficult to maintain the minimum provision of water, sanitation and hygiene services both in the camp and in the host communities.