UNICEF: Young people help to improve sanitation in Haiti

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_52820.html

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, 22 February 2010 Sanitation is among the most urgent concerns in Haiti following Januarys earthquake. UNICEF estimates that overall, 1.1 million displaced people require emergency latrines. The agency and its partners plan to install over 10,000 latrines in the short term and another 20,000-plus within six months.

To help achieve this goal, UNICEF has enlisted its non-governmental partner, the Haitian Out-of-School Youth Livelihood Initiative (known by its French acronym, IDEJEN), to construct 1,000 sanitary blocks, which include latrines, showers and handwashing facilities. The initiative has enlisted 1,200 young participants to build the sanitary blocks.

"What you are seeing here is a sanitary block made by IDEJEN youth," she said, pointing to a unit with three latrines, which will also have a hand-washing station and a shower. "We'll take care of everything, in terms of management of the sanitary block, in terms of management of the excreta and in terms of evacuation of used water.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• UNICEF
• Haiti
• earthquake
• children
• sanitation
• water
• health
• IDEJEN
• education