Reaching Tigray refugees in East Sudan with clean water, latrines, and hygiene facilities

To date since November 2020 around 63,000 Tigray refugees, 18,400 of them children, arrived in Eastern Sudan and are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Most of the refugees are currently settled in two camps in Gedaref state near the border. UNICEF and partners are on the ground providing water, sanitation, and hygiene services to ensure the safety and health of children and their families in the camps. Over 200 handwashing stations were built in the camps, and up to 42 safe water bladders installed, including 440 emergency latrines were built.

Inadequate water supply and sanitation greatly compromises the safety of children and mothers especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sufficient clean and safe water will support handwashing a key practice that will protect the refugees against COVID-19 as well as other hygiene-related illnesses.

UNICEF and partners are on the ground providing emergency water services including water bladders and water trucking to ensure adequate supply of safe water is available.

Diseases linked to unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, or poor hygiene are among the leading causes of malnutrition and child mortality. UNICEF are on the ground examining water safety on a regular basis.

Thanks to the United Nations Central Emergency Fund (CERF), UNICEF was able to help restore dignity for those fleeing conflict and provide them basics like clean and safe water and toilets to give them hope.