Afesh IDPs’ Camp is located in one of the smallest valleys of Murais region in Qataba district - Aldhale’e Governorate, and it is close to the frontline of Murais area. The residents of this camp left their village and homes in Al-Bayda Governorate, due to a civil war that has lasted for 20 years between them and one of the neighboring villages. They fled to Al-Dhale’e Governorate, and they settled in one of the valleys between Murais area and Damt district in 2018. What makes it even worse, is being in the middle of the clashes between the current warring parties in Yemen, which led to their scattering around Aldhale’e governorate in many camps, one of which is Afesh camp.
 
This camp hosts 42 families (48 men, 52 women, 65 boys, and 75 girls), who live a simple nomadic life in mud houses. The People in this camp suffer from difficulty in access to potable and domestic water. Frustratingly, this camp is the only camp that has not been interfered with by any humanitarian organization, especially in water interventions and environmental sanitation. Additionally, they do not have any functional latrines except for some families who have very primitive rooms made of stones with open ceilings, as they are used mainly for urinating. For defecating, they used to go to an open place in the surrounding mountains which is inconvenient, especially for females. Besides, defecation in open areas mostly causes many risks such as outbreaks of diarrhea and infectious diseases, as well as the high possibility of being harmed by harmful animals, such as scorpions and snakes which are scattered in the mountains, mainly at night. “This is really risky and scary” one of the field workers mentioned.
Therefore, With the support of YHF, YFCA implemented 20 emergency latrines in Afesh camp that have alleviated the suffering of 20 to 30 families, approximately 210 individuals from the most vulnerable groups in the camp. Which represents more than 75% of the camp’s population. This ensures safe access to environmental sanitation services for approximately 60% of the families in the camp.
Correspondingly, the community in the camp showed gratitude for having latrines, which they used and benefited from. Immediately, after the completion of construction, the implemented latrines are considered as an important factor in helping the community to settle down, provide safety and privacy, as well as, access to safe sanitation services, preserve the surrounding environment, and reduce the spread of diseases and infections of watery diarrhea in the long term.