Improving Sanitation in Siwa

The UN water and sanitation Millennium Development Goal implies that Egypt must provide sanitation to 77 percent of its 80 million people by 2015. Currently at 70 percent, Egypt appears to be on track. Yet numbers alone do not tell the full story. The type of sanitation, its potential for contaminating groundwater, its impact on human health, attitudes, education and behavioral change are important factors to be taken in consideration. In desert areas, there is less risk of groundwater contamination, where groundwater is deep below the surface and the sand is very porous, whereby liquid is absorbed and the groundwater remains clean. This project promotes intermediate sanitation technology, such as ensuring that latrines are properly built and covered, and attempts to provide basic sanitation services to families and households in SIWA until they can access a more advanced sewage system. The project specific objectives are: to improve general health conditions and the environment in Siwa through improved sanitation conditions in the oasis; set up a revolving fund and provide local community with access to credit in order to construct and cover sanitation latrines for 40 families (first phase) to be followed by subsequent phases; engage SIWA children and youth in clean up campaigns and planting trees in their community through structured interventions with the implementing organization; and finally promote environmental education and awareness campaigns for youth, children and the community as a whole in the oasis.