ACTED Canada

Published purpose

November 2024 – According to the 2024 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) humanitarian needs overviews, 13.6 million people in Syria and 17.4 million people in Yemen need water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance. In Syria, the ongoing economic and environmental shocks, particularly the water crisis and disease outbreaks, combined with the February 2023 earthquake and ongoing conflict increased the severity of the humanitarian crisis. Half of Syria’s water and sanitation systems no longer function properly, with wastewater often discharged in rivers. Yemen, one of the most water-stressed countries globally, faces water sources depletion and desertification due to recurrent drought, rising temperatures, and prolonged conflict. Over 80% of Yemen’s population is not connected to the sewer system, and 39% lacking access to safe sanitation disposal. The country experienced the largest cholera outbreak reported in recent history from 2016 to 2022, with 2.5 million suspected cases. As of 2024, the WASH sectors in Yemen and Syria face significant funding gaps, with 16.2% of WASH needs in Syria and 44.5% in Yemen funded according to OCHA's 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan. With Global Affairs Canada’s support, ACTED helps meet the critical WASH needs and reduce health risks for vulnerable women, men, boys and girls in Northern Syria and Yemen. Project activities include: (1) strengthening gender-inclusive WASH facilities in health facilities; (2) strengthening emergency water assets and water trucking support in at-risk communities; (3) strengthening emergency sanitation infrastructure in at-risk communities; and (4) providing emergency cholera hygiene kits and promoting hygiene awareness. With these activities, the project aims to reach 555,500 beneficiaries.