UNOPS, Japan Gov’t provide water supply and sanitation facilities serving 80,000 IDPs in Qoloji Camp

The facilities will benefit more than 80,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), mainly women and children in the Qoloji Camp, in Somali Region of Ethiopia.

The handover ceremony took place at the Qoloji IDP camp on 12 December 2023 in the presence of H.E. Mustafa Mohamed, Somali Regional President of Ethiopia, Ms. Worknesh Mekonnen, UNOPS Multi Country Office Director and Representative to the AU, and Ms. Satsuki Fukai, Representative of the Government of Japan.

The Government of Japan has provided more than USD 1 million to improve access to water supplies and sanitation facilities for IDPs in the Qoloji IDP Camp in the Somali National Regional State. The project also assists the Ethiopian Government in its efforts to resettle internally displaced persons in an environmentally friendly manner.

The Qoloji Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia faces ongoing public health risks due to the spread of cholera and other epidemics. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely weakened the already precarious healthcare system due to the crowded living conditions and limited access to necessary medicines. UNOPS, using funding from the Government of Japan, has enhanced the water supply infrastructure and sanitary facilities to address the spread of waterborne diseases in the region.

Through the project, UNOPS, has constructed two boreholes, put in place four water reservoirs, each with a 96m3 capacity, install 16 water points and constructed 10 new improvised pit latrines benefiting 80,000 Internally Displaced Persons, mainly women and children.

Ms. Worknesh Mekonnen, Multi-Country Office (Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Djibouti) Director and Representative to the AU said “Over the past few years, UNOPS has had the great honor of working continuously with the governments of Ethiopia and Japan to deliver different successful projects that add value for our partners and improve lives. Following the construction of the water supplies and sanitation facilities, UNOPS, today, is happy to hand over fully functioning and equipped facilities that will contribute to meeting the needs of IDPS in the Qoloji camp.”

Ms. Satsuki Fukai Representative of the Government of Japan also commented, “Providing WASH facilities will help women by giving them time to take care of their children and engage in other social activities. It will relieve the women from the physical stress associated with fetching water and looking after their own health, safety and security, which will boost their self-reliance.“

“I strongly believe these WASH facilities should be well-maintained and used for a long time by the community.”

The project contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3: Good health and well-being for people, and SDG 6: Ensuring Clean Water and Sanitation for all by 2030.