Handicap International experience in Afghanistan - CBM

households reported accessing water from safe sources. Figure 38 looks at the distribution of householdsof persons with disability and of non-disabled regarding access to drinking water based on the NDSA. Theresponses are similar for households with persons with disability and for non-disabled households. A largemajority of people in Afghanistan (74.3%) have to go outside the compound to fetch water. Nevertheless,households without any person with disability were proportionately higher (5.6% more) reporting having togo outside the compound. If only a minority (6.8%) needed more than half an hour to fetch water, a smallproportion in rural areas (3.0%) required more than an hour and a half. Disability is not a significant factorof difference for access to drinkable water between households. Less than 6% of both groups of householdsreceive their drinking water from a pipe supply. Another 23.6% obtain water from a public hand pump. Onein four respondents receives drinking water from a river or stream, and another 15.8% from a spring. Thedifficulty in accessing clean and drinkable water constitutes a threat for health. Households with persons withdisability are not particularly more at risk than households with no disabled members.Toilet Facilities: A Risk for HealthA very small proportion of people have access to flush toilet facilities in the house (7.6%). A large majorityof people use traditional types of latrines, usually outside the house. Lack of hygiene, a direct consequenceof scarcity of water, can pose serious threats to health. The households of a majority of persons (53.2%) usea traditional open-backed latrine. This is followed by 27.1% households making use of an open defecationfield outside their houses. There is no significant difference in access to latrines between households with aperson with disability to those without a person with disabilities as shown in Figure 39. As expected, Afghanshave more access to flushes for their natural needs in urban areas, while open fields are naturally more usedin rural places.Access to safedrinking wateris absolutelyout of reach foralmost all thepopulation. Alarge numberrely upon naturalsources of waterFigure 39. Distribution of Households with Persons with Disabilityand Households without Persons with Disability According to Accessto Toilet Facilities60• Household of Persons with Disability• Household of Non-Disabled50403020100OpenBackedOpen DefecationField Outside theHouseTraditionalPitPrivate FlushInsidePrivate FlushOutsideShared FlushAs a conclusion, Afghan people have poor access to diversified food, sometimes even to a sufficient quantityof food. Access to safe drinking water is absolutely out of reach for almost all the population. A large numberrely upon natural sources of water. In case of drought, they are immediately at risk of shortage of water,sometimes leading to travelling an entire day to find water. Lack of hygiene is a serious concern with regardto the way people deal with their natural needs.Size of the House: Overcrowded SpacesThe average size of a household is a little more than 8 people (8.24) living in the same house, under thesame roof, preparing food in the same kitchen, sharing meals, income and expenses as shown in Figure 40. Amajority of people (57.1%) live in a space of 1 to 3 rooms. Compared to the average size of a household, thisLivelihoods and Assets55