issue 12

Published - 03 Dec 08

South Asia - General

South Asia: SACOSAN-III recognises sanitation and safe drinking water as a basic right

In its final declaration, the Third Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-III), which ended in New Delhi, India, on 21 November 2008, recognised access to sanitation and safe drinking water as a basic right.

Aziza, resident of an IDP camp in north-west Pakistan

'We don't go [to the latrines] in the daytime - it's crowded and difficult with the burqa. We go at night with a flashlight.'

Afghanistan: update on ICRC's activities

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has published an update on its activities in Afghanistan, including its efforts to improve water supply and sanitation in the country.

Bangladesh: sanitation coverage only 39 percent

At a ceremony to launch the WaterAid Global Report on sanitation, representatives of WaterAid Bangladesh said that, despite government claims of 88 per cent, actual sanitation coverage in the country is only 39 percent.

Bangladesh, Chittagong Hill Tracts: serious pollution problem in Kaptai Lake

The waters of Kaptai Lake, in the Chittagong Hill Tracts area of Bangladesh, are becoming increasingly polluted, posing a serious threat to public health and the environment.

Bhutan: first eco-friendly sewerage plant goes into operation

Bhutan's first eco-friendly sewerage plant, in Trashigang town, was commissioned on 17th November, 2008. The plant, built with funding from DANIDA, will serve 58 houses in the town.

India: official launch of National Urban Sanitation Policy

The Indian Ministry of Urban Development has officially launched a country-wide National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP). The Ministry has urged individual states to draft their own strategies based on the NUSP and taking account of their own specific circumstances.

India: NGO study says national public hygiene initiative 'has not worked'

The Action Research Unit or Taru, an Indian NGO supported by UNICEF, has conducted a study of the Indian government's Nirmal Gram Puraska initiative and concluded that 'it has not worked the way it was meant to'.

India, Bangalore: new wing to tackle illegal water users

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has set up a special wing to tackle the problem of illegal water users in the city. These are mainly people who use unauthorised connections and those who evade water charges.

Maldives: challenges for the sanitation sector

In its country paper presented at the Third South Asian Conference on Sanitation, the government of the Maldives identified several challenges facing the sanitation sector.

Nepal: sanitation statistics point to losses of US$ 128 million

Statistics produced by the National Sanitation Steering Committee suggest that Nepal is losing some Rs. 10 billion (US$ 128 million) a year due to inadequate sanitation. Bad sanitation and unsafe drinking water is still claiming the lives of 13,000 under-fives.

Pakistan: on track to meet MDG target for sanitation, draft National Drinking Water Policy on the way

Speaking at the SACOSAN-III conference, the Pakistani Minister for Environment said that the country was on track to meet the MDG target for sanitation. The Minister also told UNICEF that Pakistan would soon be finalising a draft National Drinking Water Policy.

Pakistan, Karachi: city being supplied with contaminated water

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board is supplying the city with contaminated water after reducing the capacity of its filter plants. Experts warned of the risk of water-borne diseases.

Development journalism: Asian journalists win DAJA awards with water-related stories

The winners of the 2008 Developing Asia Journalism Awards included a number of journalists who had submitted stories relating to water and sanitation.

Professor Abul Hussam: awarded ‘Outstanding American by Choice’ certificate

During a ceremony at George Mason University, Professor Abdul Hussam, originally from Bangladesh, was awarded with an 'Outstanding American by Choice' certificate for developing the SONO arsenic filter.

Munem Wasif: photographer commissioned to document Chittagong Hill Tracts Project

Munem Wasif, one of the photographers shortlisted for the Prix Pictet, has been commissioned to document the progress of WaterAid's Chittagong Hill Tracts Project in Bangladesh.

Senior Water Sanitation and Hygiene Advisor, SNV, Nepal (re-announcement)

The Senior WaSH Advisor’s primary roles are to facilitate a pro-poor, sustainable sector development (for the rural and the small town subsectors) and give content leadership to a team of SNV advisors on capacity building services for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

Apply before Friday 19 December 2008

Internship/Associate for performance assessment of urban water and sanitation, CEPT University, India

Intern and longer-term associate positions are available for individuals with interest in the water and sanitation sector and/or urban local governance.

Apply before Wednesday 31 December 2008

Training course on drinking water quality management

New Delhi, India, 16-18 December 2008

This training course, to be held in New Delhi, India, will look at issues related to water quality monitoring and management.

Sanitation: willingness to pay in Bangladesh

A recently published study report offers economic insights into the sanitation-related strategies of the BRAC Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programme in Bangladesh. The results indicate that about 80% of households were willing to pay for improved sanitation services.

Microfinance: improving access to water supply and sanitation in urban India

Preliminary results of research in India suggest that microlending may be an effective means of helping households in communities with existing trunk infrastructure to access improved water supply and sanitation services in their homes.

Microfinance: unique partnership aims to spur innovation in India’s sanitation sector

Dutch NGO WASTE and micro insurance company TATA-AIG have jointly developed a way to improve sanitation using health insurance products based on customer demand. Health insurance premiums will be tailored to the sanitation situation of the target group, so that better sanitation means lower premiums.