Muhammad and his family of six live in Al-Wajd village in Ta’izz Governorate’s Al-Misrakh District. Like other parts of Yemen, the village’s water and sanitation services have been devastated by the ongoing conflict, including Muhammad’s household latrine.

“Because of the weakening economic situation as a result of the ongoing conflict and the lack of job opportunities, we were unable to build a safe household latrine,” Muhammad says. “It was dilapidated, exposed, and unsafe. Women couldn’t use it during daylight hours.”

Poor sanitation services have contaminated water sources and contributed to the spread of cholera and other diseases.

Muhammad’s family was among 70 households supported through the USAID Addressing WASH Services in Yemen activity implemented by CARE International. CARE provided the families with the materials needed to build and rehabilitate the household latrines. Families excavated the cisterns at the required depths and flattened them, in addition to constructing and rehabilitating their latrines according to specifications and drawings provided by CARE.

Amer, the head of the Al-Wajd village community committee, says, “We did not expect the community to engage in this way; they did everything themselves. This work helped us to get rid of the exposed toilet drains, which were leading down to the roads and other public places. This was causing the spread of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and flies in addition to polluting surface water sources.”

“CARE supported us,” says Muhammad. “And now we have a new, safe household latrine. I’m really grateful for this intervention and we hope it carries on in other places.”

Addressing WASH Services in Yemen is a three-year activity implemented by CARE that improves access to safe water and sanitation services for vulnerable populations in Yemen through rehabilitation of water supply systems and sewer networks, construction of public latrines, and promotion of hygiene awareness.