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When sanitation becomes a matter of dignity

In Yemen, the lack of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure continues to disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Many families live in informal settlements on the outskirts of cities, in makeshift shelters built from wood, fabric scraps and worn-out clothes. They face daily hardships in conditions that fall far below minimum standards of dignity.

One such settlement, Mahwa Al-Asfal, is home to 497 individuals, many of whom are from marginalized groups. Among the most pressing and persistent needs is the absence of clean and safe latrines.

For years, families have lived without access to proper sanitation facilities, exposing them, especially women and children, to serious health and protection risks.

Iqbal’s Daily Struggle

In Mahwa Al-Asfal, a settlement for marginalized communities in the Radfan district in Lahj governorate, lives Iqbal, a 30-year-old mother of three. Her daily struggle began with something as basic, yet vital, as access to a latrine and a private space.

“We relieved ourselves in open areas, looking for hidden spots away from view, but they were never truly safe. Sometimes, strangers would follow us in the dark."

"I had to take my husband with me, but even then, we didn't feel secure. We feared people—and we feared insects and reptiles too,” Iqbal recalls.

The absence of proper sanitation was not just an inconvenience, it was a constant threat to privacy, safety, and dignity. For Iqbal, the greatest fear was not for herself, but for her daughters,

“I worried about them more than myself. That’s why I had to go with them every time,” she explains.

We relieved ourselves in open areas, looking for hidden spots away from view, but they were never truly safe. Sometimes, strangers would follow us in the dark. I had to take my husband with me, but even then, we didn't feel secure. We feared people—and we feared insects and reptiles too

Iqbal, one of marginalized woman

Sanitation Services Restoring Safety and Dignity

To address urgent sanitation needs in Mahwa Al-Asfal, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) installed 19 latrines in 2022 with support from the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF). Building on this intervention, DRC, through the Yemen Displacement Response (YDR) consortium and funding from the European Union (EU), rehabilitated 43 latrines in Mahwa Al-Asfal.

These efforts included not only structural maintenance but also the installation of lighting to enhance safety and ensure dignified, accessible sanitation services, particularly for women and girls.

This initiative went beyond infrastructure. It brought real change to people’s daily lives.

Things are much better now. We feel safer. These latrines give us privacy and a sense of protection,

Iqbal

Regular maintenance ensures that the latrines remain safe and functional, while lighting has made it possible for women and children to move around at night without fear. These improvements have restored a sense of dignity and peace of mind to a community that had long gone without.

Thanks to funding from the EU through its Humanitarian Aid Operations, DRC, a member of the YDR Consortium, supported 203 families with 95 latrine installations and 585 families with 195 latrines rehabilitation in seven sites across Lahj and Hodaidah governorates to ensure they have dignified and accessible sanitation services.