Application of Integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Assessment Tool in Displaced Settings in Rakhine State, Myanmar

This study aimed to apply the integrated WASH assessment tool and assess the performance of WASH services in three Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps in Rakhine State, Myanmar. The tool was applied in a unique non-household setting that is vulnerable to annual storms and storm-induced flooding, while also facing the complexity of political and social constraints. The assessment focused on nine components of the tool: water, sanitation, hygiene, financial, institutional, environmental impacts, technical, social, and climate change. Afterwards, the overall WASH services performance of the three IDP camps was determined. The assessment revealed good performance in water, financial, institutional, and social components across all camps. However, environmental impact, technical, and climate change components showed the need for improvement due to recurrent climate hazards, and their impacts on WASH facilities, such as latrine destruction, saltwater intrusion into handpumps, and increased diarrhea cases. Based on the findings, the study recommends constructing disaster-resilient latrines, reinforcing handpumps with watertight materials, elevating wellheads to prevent contamination, and forming emergency response teams with appropriate training. Overall, Ohn Taw Gyi (South) and Kaung Doke Khar (2) camps had a good level of WASH performance with a 6.38 sum of net scores of components (SAS), and with 6.06 SAS, respectively. Thet Kae Pyin camp had a moderate level of performance with 5.35 SAS. The application of the assessment tool provided valuable data to support evidence-based decision-making. It serves as a useful resource for WASH professionals, humanitarian organizations, and local governments to evaluate service performance and ensure sustainable service provision in their areas.