Water filters for Myanmar refugees

Myanmar Refugee Water Filter Distribution

Follow-up

June 10, 2012

Overall situation of refugee camps

There are now more than 80,000 refugees along the Myanmar/China border.

In Myanmar there are 53 refugee camps with a total of 53,379 refugees.

There are another 9 refugee camps with 7097 refugees in Yunnan province, in the Baoshan & Dehong districts.

Overall situation of refugee camps

There are now more than 80,000 refugees along the Myanmar/China border.

In Myanmar there are 53 refugee camps with a total of 53,379 refugees.

There are another 9 refugee camps with 7097 refugees in Yunnan province, in the Baoshan & Dehong districts.

Our Goal: Provide refugees with ceramic water filters so they can have clean and safe drinking water to protect their health and prevent the spread of diseases.

42 refugee camps leaders received training including: Healthy Drinking Water, Sanitation Improvement and Disease Prevention, QQR Prevention Principles, and

Water Filter Installation and Maintain.

Participatory games ： Contrasting the difference between disease prevention and treatment

Learning how to wash the hands and learning how to train people to do the same

Learning how to install the water filter

Water filters located in public places are more convenience for refugees than going to get clean drinking water from a distant source – leading to more people drinking safe & clean water.

Locally its now very hot. It’s very convenient to have clean water in their

living rooms.

Muguaba refugee camp in Myanmar

• There are 1,245 refugees living in the Muguba refugee camp. Their drinking water comes from three 10 meter deep wells.

• This camp was built in November 2011. Three children under 5 years of age have died due to diarrhea. Marip Seng Dui Mai ， female ， 2 years 3 months old; Labang La Grawng ， male, 3 years old; Damau Gum Ring, male ， 3 years old.

This well is 10 meters deep, but is very easily polluted and their bottles are very dirty.

Refugees need at least 4 hours to carry wood from the forest to the camp. Even if they understand

the dangers of drinking unboiled water, they still do because of the cost to getting wood.

Xiang Nan Ra is 9 years old. She was vomiting and had

severe diarrhea. Her family used to drink untreated water at

home. Her mom said Xiang Nan Ra had diarrhea so severe she was

soiling her trousers two times a day.

The doctors requested Xiang Nan Ra take medicine and drink clean water from the water

filter. That day 17 other refugees were also treated for diarrhea at the camp clinic.

Xiang Nan Ra and her mother

Like this lady, many refugees are getting sick because of the hot weather and not drinking enough clean

water...

Communicable diseases are common among the refugees, but good sanitation and prevention

will improve their situation

32.5% refugees can now get clean drinking

water our ceramic water filters

67.5% refugees still have very

limited access to clean drinking

water and have a very high risk of

get sick from polluted water.

Water Filters: More are needed

Financing situation(as of June 10, 2012)

• Personal Donations ： 11,060 RMB• Kachin Government ： 80,000 RMB• Partners in Hope ： 154,800 RMB

• Grand total ： 245,860RMB

Materials Provided to Date

• Ceramic water filters: 1,513• Drinking Cups: 8,600• Pails: 1,050• Basins: 1,050

• These have been distributed at 9 refugee camps, helping 17,379 refugees have safe drinking water.

Receipt from Kachin Goverment

Other Needs Include:• Rice: Refugees need 200,000 RMB per day worth of rice • Medicine: for diarrhea, colds, and mosquito bites.• Education: 1000+ boarding students need scholarship

support.

Donations• Donations of $30 will help 20 people have a water filter to

share and 20 new cups.• If you are interested in donating, please email Partner in

Hope, Kunming Office’s manager, Derek Chitwood, PhD at: derek@pihngo.org. Thank you.

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