MARCH 2024 - In this third edition of the GWC newsletter, we bring you a rich and diverse array of news and key updates from National Coordination Platforms (NCPs), GWC members, and partners like UNICEF, OCHA, IASC, The World Bank, USAID, PRO-WASH & SCALE, and the Gender in Emergencies Group.
February 2024 marked the fourth month of hostilities in the Gaza Strip that left 1.7 million people internally displaced—the majority of the people were left with no access to clean and safe drinking water or functional sanitation infrastructures. In their joint call for ceasefire in Gaza released on 20 February, the WASH and Health Clusters reiterated the detrimental effect of the lack of WASH facilities in public health—citing outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases and hepatitis A. Same is the case for the Democratic Republic of Congo as fighting displaces thousands of people in North and South Kivu, concerns grow about the spread of disease due to overcrowded, unsanitary living conditions.
There is an immense need for joined-up action to strengthen the capacity of humanitarian actors to respond to crises and fragile contexts. The GWC, along with its partners, continues to be at the forefront of delivering life-saving humanitarian assistance in and beyond WASH. The recently released GWC Humanitarian Response Plans Dashboard (Jan-Dec 2023) encapsulates concrete steps and progress unlocked towards giving aid to people in need in 35 countries across seven geographical regions.
Also in this issue:
- The GWC's Advocacy Workshops and its participation in the International Humanitarian Law Talks, both in Geneva
- A new online course | Introducing water, sanitation and hygiene systems strengthening
- A webinar | Making markets work for hygiene: Engaging the private sector for healthier
- DON'T MISS! The GWC's humanitarian talk at the European Humanitarian Forum 2024, organized with the German WASH Network.
Read the full March 2024 newsletter.
