Trend-line analysis and severity assessment of Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS)‎ of rural and urban area in Somalia

Abstract EN

Due in large part to rapid urban population growth in Somalia, this growth will likely increase challenges to municipalities attempting to provide access to water supply and sanitation.

This paper aims to characterize trends in access to water and sanitation in Somalia and recognize factors affecting those trends by the determination of severity score.

The analyzed water supply and sanitation (WSS) coverage data from the year 1995 to 2010 was collected from Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) which is organized by renowned organizations WHO and UNICEF.

From the available data can be predicted the future situation.

The urban of country was found to be increasing access in the categories of improved water supply and improved sanitation.

In urban areas from 1995 to 2010, it increases from 24 % to 70 % of total improved water supply and reducing the amount of time spent collecting water and reducing open defecation.

80% urban people have access to the total improved sanitation.

The urban area achieved the lowest severity score than rural and total Somalia.

On the contrary, in the rural area, people do not have adequate improved water supply opportunity and sanitation facility.

91% rural people are deprived of safe water where 41 % of rural populations are dependent only on surface water without any treatment or purification.

It is also found that 83% of rural people practice open defecation and unfortunately this rate is increasing day by day.

As a result, the rural area got the maximum severity score.

Safe water access and sustainable sanitation is a burning need in Somalia.

Especially the rural area is the most vulnerable study area in WSS sector.

Development organizations should be concerned about the situation and it can be prescribed to raise more WASH (Water supply and Sanitation Hygienic) activities in Somalia.