Latrines make life safer in the refugee camp
Nyakhot Lul Deng is 29 years old. In 2014, she fled the war in South Sudan and has been living in a refugee camp in western Ethiopia for the past seven years. Here she and her family have received food, water and other assistance. But something was missing: a functioning latrine. Having to relieve herself outdoors was dangerous, especially at night. But it also posed a health problem:
"We suffered from diseases. My children had to go to the clinic with typhoid fever and diarrhea."
Nyakhot Lul Deng, refugee living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia
After receiving training from Oxfam on how to prevent the spread of disease and how to build latrines, Nyakhot decided to build one herself. She collected materials from the nearby forest, and another person in the camp helped her with the construction.
After a month, the latrine was ready for use. Nyakhot also built a wash basin outside where the family could wash their hands.
"We suffered from diseases. My children had to go to the clinic with typhoid fever and diarrhea."
Nyakhot Lul Deng, refugee living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia
The only problem now, says Nyakhot, is that the latrine has become so popular. It is difficult to keep it clean, and she encourages others in the camp to build more. At the same time, she is happy that it is being used:
"They need to be healthy. And I want their children to be healthy too."
Nyakhot Lul Deng, refugee living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia
What Oxfam does:
The Tierkidi camp in Ethiopia is home to over 375,000 people, almost 90% of whom are women and children who fled the war in South Sudan.
Oxfam is on the ground providing clean water and sanitation to the people living there, and also promoting good hygiene. Oxfam has worked with refugees to build 8,600 latrines - yet only 25% have access to one. Refugees themselves have provided suggestions on how to build latrines using traditional construction techniques, and more are being built all the time.
Why does Oxfam work with water and sanitation?
People's access to water is central to almost all of Oxfam's work, whether it is emergency relief or long-term work against injustice and oppression. Lack of clean water is closely linked to poverty. Diseases from contaminated water, as well as lack of basic sanitation, kill more people every year than all forms of violence and war. To achieve a more equitable world, we need to achieve a more equitable distribution of our water resources.
