The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Restoring health and water services for conflict-affected communities
UNOPS has officially handed over rehabilitated health and water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities to the community and local authorities in Raya Alamata Woreda.
The handover marks the successful completion of a critical recovery project for conflict-affected communities in Garjela and Tao Kebeles.
The project was developed following a detailed needs assessment conducted, which identified severe damage to infrastructure in the targeted kebeles due to conflict. The assessment highlighted looted and damaged health posts, destroyed water pumps, and compromised water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, creating urgent humanitarian needs.
Funded by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the $1 million project was implemented over 12 months, supporting more than 30,000 people with access to lifesaving health services and more than 1,400 people with improved access to safe water and sanitation.
This project represents a significant step in supporting the recovery and resilience of vulnerable populations in Alamata Woreda. By restoring these essential services, we are helping to lay the foundation for healthier and more stable communities.
"CERF enables rapid, life-saving action that supports both immediate recovery and longer-term resilience in conflict-affected communities," said Rosalind Crowther, Head of the Humanitarian Financing Unit, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Ethiopia.
The handover included capacity-building support for the community structures, health facility professionals and water, sanitation, and hygiene committees, and local government administration offices for health and water. These entities will now be responsible for the ongoing management and maintenance of the facilities to ensure long-term sustainability.
The project was implemented in close coordination with local community structures, stakeholders and aligned with broader recovery efforts.
