| Project | Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project in Kungyangon, Yangon Region |
| Objectives | • To ensure proper access to clean water and sanitation facilities for the communities • To minimise the risk of communicable disease • To protect the environment from contamination, due to poor sanitation |
| Project Partners | • Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) • Adventist Development and Relief Agencies (ADRA) • Kungyangon Township Hospita |
| Activities | • Household latrines • School latrines • Hygiene Kit distributions • Hygiene promotion sessions |
| Locations | Taw Palae village, Kungyangon Township |
| Period | July 2011 to December 2012 |
| Accomplishments | • 180 household latrines built • 250 hygiene kits distributed • 1 concrete school latrine built and three school latrines reconstructed • 10 hygiene awareness and promotion sessions |
BACKGROUND
Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar in May 2009, sweeping through the Ayeyarwady delta region and the country’s main city and former capital, Yangon, affecting 2.4 million people. Several hundred thousand people were living without shelter and safe drinking water. Approximately 37 townships in Ayeyarwady and Yangon Divisions were significantly affected by the cyclone, with damage most severe in the delta region. The level of damage in the delta region forced many to relocate to the less damaged Kawhmu and Kungyangon townships, bordering the delta. The survivors still live in deplorable conditions with hardly any access to proper health care while access to clean water, proper hygiene and sanitation and facilities are limited.
MERCY MALAYSIA’S EFFORTS
Since the tragedy, MERCY Malaysia has been operating in the nearby townships setting up Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects. In 2012, a total of 180 household latrines were built with the help of local communities. Hygiene awareness campaigns were conducted throughout the townships and hygiene kits were distributed to members of the communities. This support will help to reduce illnesses caused by unclean water and poor access to proper sanitation facilities.