Improving environmental conditions for involuntarily displaced populations: water, sanitation, and hygiene in orphanages, prisons, and refugee and IDP settlements

Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) services for involuntarily displaced populations is an important component of Sustainable Development Goal 6: achieving universal and equitable access to basic WaSH services by 2030. To date, households have been the main priority in the WaSH sector, and other settings have received less attention. Ensuring that involuntarily displaced persons have adequate WaSH and environmental health services is of critical importance for human rights and development outcomes. The Water Institute at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill and World Vision organized a side event at the 2017 UNC Water and Health conference to discuss obstacles and opportunities related to improving environmental conditions in orphanages, prisons, and refugee and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) settlements. Participants discussed the characteristics of each setting in breakout discussion groups, and then came together to discuss the similarities and differences between the three settings. Our goal was to allow common themes and lessons to emerge and to develop recommendations and shape future research. This side event provided an opportunity for participants from different professional backgrounds to share their experiences working with involuntarily displaced populations and discuss ways forward.