Integrated Assessment of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Services in Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Camps in Rakhine State, Myanmar

This study assessed the performance and resilience of WASH services of three Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps in Rakhine State, Myanmar, a unique non-household setting vulnerable to an-nual storms and storm-induced flooding. Considering climate-sensitivity and complexity of political and social constraints, an integrated WASH assessment tool was used. It consists of nine compo-nents: water, sanitation, hygiene, financial, institutional, environmental impacts, technical, social, and climate change. Results showed good WASH performance levels in Ohn Taw Gyi (South) and Kaung Doke Khar (2) camps, and moderate performance in Thet Kae Pyin camp. Good performance was observed in water, financial, institutional, and social components across all camps, while envi-ronmental impact, technical, and climate change components required improvements due to recur-rent climate hazards, and it impacts on WASH facilities, such as latrine destruction, saltwater intru-sion into handpumps, and increased diarrhea cases. Thus, constructing disaster-resilient latrines, reinforcing handpumps with watertight materials, elevating wellheads to prevent contamination, and forming emergency response teams with appropriate training were recommended. This study provided valuable data to support informed decision-making to the participated stakeholders. It would be beneficial for stakeholders such as WASH professionals, humanitarian organizations, and local governments to ensure sustainable WASH services provision in their areas.