Morocco Earthquake: Water and Sanitation Challenges Mount in Refugee Camps

Thibaut Constant, water, hygiene and sanitation expert at the French Red Cross, spent ten days with his team touring several camps in the disaster-affected areas far from Marrakech to assess the needs of the affected populations. After visiting Asni, Taroudant, Talat, Nyacoub, etc., he explains that "from one camp to another, the problem is different. Some camps have 100 people, others 200 or 300... Some have water sources, others don’t. So we have to find solutions on a case-by-case basis".

In the douars with access to a water source, the network needs to be rehabilitated. On the other hand, for those using river or stream water, connections to existing networks will have to be established, then a pumping, filtering and chlorination system put in place. In isolated camps and small douars, water points will have to be created, including tanks, or failing that, carry out distributions in jerrycans. Regarding hygiene, the challenge is significant. It is urgent to install showers and latrines in some camps that do not have them.