Restoring access to clean water and sanitation facilities in Southern Leyte after Typhoon Odette
UNICEF and the Government of Japan are providing lifesaving supplies and support to ensure that most-affected families have access to safe water and sanitation facilities.
With the threat of COVID-19 and other diseases, inadequate or totally damaged water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities can worsen the health of children and families in areas affected by Typhoon Odette (Rai).
Through the support of the Government of Japan, UNICEF is providing lifesaving supplies and support to ensure that the most-affected areas in Southern Leyte are able to access safe water and sanitation facilities.
As of 9 July 2022, 202,187 people have benefitted from the water kits and water system rehabilitation in Regions IV-B, VII, VIII, and Caraga. Sanitation facilities such as toilets and handwashing stations that UNICEF built in communities and temporary shelters are being used by 28,256 people. To support home toilet repairs, UNICEF also provided cash assistance to 1,111 households in Limasawa, Sogod, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, San Francisco, and San Juan.
Toilet repairs and water system rehabilitation in Brgy. Pinut-an
“Our house collapsed and our belongings were scattered on the ground. Everything---including our clothes, rice, and our plates. Everything else was destroyed,” shares Cristina Marino, a resident in Barangay Pinut-an, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte.
Christine Marino helps her children, Nikko, 2, and Erich, 4, wash their hands and feet in their newly repaired toilet in Brgy. Pinut-an. Their family is among the 150 households in San Ricardo who received cash assistance from UNICEF to help repair their home toilets. Christine shared that one of her children got sick during the aftermath of Typhoon Odette (Rai) because of the water they drank. They now know how to use Aquatabs that were included in the distributed family hygiene and dignity kits from UNICEF.
Jevee, 15, is helping out in the repairs of their toilet. The cash assistance covers the improvement of the toilet’s floor, walls, roof and plumbing fixtures. The beneficiaries provided the labor for the construction. Household members typically contribute in building their new toilets. According to his mother Crestina Abria, she was saddened when she realized that their toilet was badly damaged during the typhoon. A decent toilet for good hygiene is important for Jevee, saying that she could live in a nipa hut just to make sure that they will have enough resources to set up a functioning toilet.
A tap stand was also installed in Brgy. Pinu-tan, giving residents access to clean water for their daily needs.
One of the challenges in the gradual transition to face-to-face learning is to keep children safe and healthy at school, frequent handwashing is promoted as one of the significant health measures. The presence of functioning and sufficient handwashing facilities is important to ensure safe school reopening. Therefore, UNICEF and its partners made sure that the Hanginan Elementary School in Maasin, Southern Leyte is equipped with handwashing stations and functioning toilets. Around 127 school children benefitted from repairs of WASH facilities in their school.
Grade 6 students Lian Mae, Josephine and Rhea Mae make it a habit to wash their hands regularly with clean water and soap. This helps prevent the spread of diseases like COVID-19. “We are now happy that we have water that we can use in our toilets and for washing our hands. Water is very important because we use it for washing our hands before eating, for keeping our body clean and also to be safe from COVID-19,” said Lian Mae.
