IR France Arabic Website IR Italy IR Netherlands IR Belgium IR Germany IR USA IR UK IR Switzerland IR Turkey graphic link : Swedish flag Malaysian Flag Flag South Africa Flag Canada
 
Water and Sanitation

Project Overview

Arsenic contamination in tube-well water has plagued Bangladesh over the last 10 to 12 years. Anywhere between 35 and 75 million people drink arsenic contaminated water, leading to a high rate of skin disorders, cancer and death among the affected population.

Islamic Relief Bangladesh is addressing this problem by installing deep tube wells which will provide safe drinking water in 22 districts. Sanitary latrines are also installed in rural areas.

IR aid workers also hold meetings with community members to raise awareness about the problems of arsenic poisoning.  

Project Background

Arsenic contamination has been described as Bangladesh's silent disaster. It was first detected in 1993, and subsequent confirmations of high levels of arsenic in numerous wells around the country have raised serious health concerns.

Statistics available on the arsenic contamination indicate that 59 districts, or around 85% of the total area of Bangladesh, are contaminated, leaving about 75 million people at risk of arsenic poisoning. It is estimated that at least 1.2 million people have been exposed to arsenic.

Lack of sanitation  is another problem faced by millions of people in Bangladesh where almost half the population have no access to latrines.

Project Objectives

  • Providing safe water by installing deep tube wells and dug-wells;
  • Installing hygienic latrines;
  • Promoting the safe use of surface water and rainwater;
  • Increase awareness of the dangers of arsenic contamination.

 

Project Activities

Tube well installations:

  • Installing tube wells;
  • Establishing tube well maintenance teams from the community;
  • Identifying alternative and safe sources of water;
  • Training volunteers on water preservation and the use of alternative sources of water;
  • Providing awareness to well users on economic use of water.

Latrines installations:

  • Training community volunteers in the latrine construction;
  • Installing latrines;
  • Promoting good hygienic practices;

Basic Awareness training:

  • Raising awareness about the dangers of arsenic;
  • Training and developing community volunteers.

Beneficiaries

This project benefits around 40,640 people in targeted communities in rural and impoverished areas of Bangladesh.