Water, Sanitation & Hygiene –

Updated March 2011

In Haiti, the leading cause for infant mortality and illness in children is contaminated water. Germs for
hepatitis, cholera and chronic diarrhea are carried through water used for cooking and drinking. Additionally
the absence of a sewage sanitation system has contaminated nearly every water source with human waste,
further exacerbated by natural calamities such as hurricanes and the recent earthquake. Water and
Sanitation infrastructural damages sustained as a result of the January 12 earthquake exceed $ 235 million
(USD) and estimates for recovery and reconstruction for these systems are estimated as costing over $ 284
million (USD) as outlined in the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA).

Sector Summary (from Haiti Aid Map) Pre-Earthquake Snapshot

Number of Members* 25 45% of population with no access to safe water
83% of population with no access to sanitation
Number of Projects* 84
1.7 million children with no access to sanitation
Number of Communes Covered* 67 861,000 children with no access to safe water

*The information above is compiled from project Post Earthquake Snapshot

information collected for InterAction’s Mapping
437 settlements lack adequate sanitation
Initiative. For detailed information on member
projects, please visit http://haiti.ngoaidmap.org $ 235 million in losses/damages to WASH facilities

Progress at 6 months Progress on January 12, 2011

1,200,000 people with access to safe water Please visit the Resources Section at
87,300 hygiene kits distributed http://www.interaction.org/haiti to obtain one-year
11,000 latrines installed 1,600,000 people reached reports detailing the work done by individual
20,500 children with access to WASH facilities member organizations working in Haiti.

InterAction Member Activities (from Haiti Aid Map)

 Ensuring drinking water supply, clean latrines and basic hygiene practices in the community
 Distribution of hygiene kits, mosquito nets and family buckets
 Repairing water infrastructure systems
 Installation of family latrines, hand washing facilities and solar water purification units
 Develop potable water sources, pumping and purification systems
 Voucher distribution to purchase clean water
 Promoting hygiene practices through public health messages and operational support in schools
 Ensuring hospital have access to clean water

Challenges

InterAction | 1400 16th St. NW, Suite 210 | Washington, DC 20036 | 202.667.8227 | www.interaction.org
Sites unsuitable for borehole drilling
Cholera epidemic
Overcrowding of urban environments
Land tenure
 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

InterAction Members (from Haiti Aid Map)

 All Hands Volunteers
 American Jewish World Service
 American Red Cross
 American Refugee Committee International
 Baptist World Alliance/Baptist World Aid*
 Brother’s Brother Foundation
 Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
 Church World Service
 Episcopal Relief & Development
 Friends of ACTED
 Habitat for Humanity International
 International Medical Corps
 International Relief & Development
 International Rescue Committee (IRC)
 Life for Relief and Development
 Lutheran World Relief
 Mercy Corps
 Operation Blessing International
 Operation USA
 Pan American Development Foundation
 Project Concern International
 Save the Children
 United Methodist Committee on Relief
 World Relief
 World Vision USA, Inc.

Source(s): United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), Water, Sanitation
and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster

InterAction | 1400 16th St. NW, Suite 210 | Washington, DC 20036 | 202.667.8227 | www.interaction.org