In Al-Isteqama Camp in North Deir Al Balah, close to 3,600 people have been displaced since the beginning of the war. The overcrowded informal tent camp lacks access to basic humanitarian aid and essential services, creating urgent needs for solutions to ensure the dignity and safety of residents. Amongst others, the families face issues of worn-out tents, insufficient sewage networks, and severe lack of electricity and safe drinking water.
Once approached and trained by DCA/NCA and Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), the community in Al-Isteqama jointly agreed to address the acute lack of functioning sewage networks in the camp.
Their idea was to establish a proper sewage network within the camp and connecting it to the municipality’s larger system outside of the camp, ensuring access to safe and functional toilet facilities for all community members.
By contacting local vendors, the community group managed to procure all the needed material to build the sewage network. The work was completed by the community members themselves, leveraging on available expertise inside the camp from people who had relevant work experience and technical expertise.
Within the span of 2 weeks, the project was completed, providing all camp residents with safe, accessible, and functional sanitation facilities.
This effort improved hygiene and safety as it significantly reduced running contaminated water between tents and decreased the spread of diseases and insects in the camp. It also demonstrated the power of community-led initiatives in creating dignified living conditions during a crisis.