World Toilet Day: Better Hygiene Means a Better Life

by CARE Australia - November 19, 2014

Lebanon/Syria

Today, as we celebrate World Toilet Day, many Syrian refugees struggle with harsh water and sanitation conditions, especially with the weather becoming colder at this time of the year. CARE helps by installing water and sanitation facilities, fixing infrastructure and providing hygiene promotion for Syrian refugees and local communities in different areas of Lebanon.

Nabiha shares her electricity, fridge and washing machine for free with her neighbours who are in a worse situation than her. “I share our electricity generator with two of my neighbors for free as they live in very bad conditions, with no incomes and have big families. I feel I must help them because humanity is all we have and can do for each other.” CARE conducted repairs for 123 houses in North Lebanon, installing and repairing water tanks, water heaters, sinks, mixers and toilets, and distributing hygiene kits. ©Racha El Daoi/CARE

CARE helped repair Sanaa's bathroom and kitchen — CARE helped repair Inaya’s bathroom and kitchen, creating a safer environment for the family. “Since CARE undertook these essential repairs, my family and I have been able to shower, cook and clean without fearing electric shocks, as the water used to leak on the electric cables for the water heater.” ©Racha El Daoi/CARE

Basic improvised camp in the Mount Lebanon area — In this very basic improvised camp, 33 families live in tents and temporary shelters in an olive grove. The families had previously lived in an unused school for three months, but when the school reopened, the families were evicted. The owner paid for the construction of the shelters, a toilet block and a prayer room, and also provides water and limited power. There are only two toilets for women and two toilets for men. Although there are more than 100 additional families wanting to move to the camp, they cannot be accommodated due to lack of funding to build new shelters, and water and sanitation facilities. ©Adel Sarkozi/CARE

CARE water tanks — This used to be a school. When the influx of Syrian refugees came toLebanon increased in late 2011, the school owner decided to turn it into a collective shelter. This old school now hosts more than 30 Syrian families, sharing bathrooms and facilities. CARE installed large water tanks for residents to access water, and installed a sun pillar water heating system. *“I did what I had to do to help these people,”* says Ali, owner of the school. “I would like to thank CARE a lot for their great help. Installing these water containers and sun pillars was very necessary. Until these improvements, refugees had not been able to afford to buy water.” ©CARE

The bathroom/kitchen of a Syrian family — Syrian refugee families have been forced to use bathrooms as kitchens as well as for washing. Many families have to put the gasoline tank and mini cooker next to the sink in the small room where they live. *“We know it is unclean and unsafe, but we have no other option,*” says the family. CARE’s water, sanitation and hygiene project helped by installing water heaters and fixing the water infrastructure. ©Racha El Daoi/CARE

Donate to CARE’s Syrian Refugee Crisis Appeal today

*CARE is committed to being a child safe organisation. Names have been changed to protect identities.

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