Clean and safe water is essential for life. The impending drought in Somalia has caused a severe water shortage leading to use of contaminated water, which, coupled with poor hygiene practices, has led to widespread outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as acute watery diarrhea and cholera.

As a consequence of the water shortage, water prices have skyrocketed making it difficult for the most vulnerable to access safe water. Water scarcity has also led to a high mortality rate amongst livestock and failed crop production, essential elements of household survival. Many households, usually women and girls, walk long distances to access water, increasing their exposure to risks of sexual and gender-based violence. To respond to this crisis, with support from the Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF), ACTED provided over 1,500 households in Sanaag region with 45 liters of water per day through emergency water trucking. The beneficiaries also received hygiene kits and participated in hygiene promotion sessions to improve hygiene practices and reduce the spread of water-borne disease.