Habsa Hassen Hussien fled with ten children and almost nothing else. A mother from Lagahida in the Somali region of Ethiopia, she fled conflict and now lives at Jarsow Displacement Centre. Until recently, the daily task of keeping her family clean was a fight she was struggling to win.
Clean hands and a healthy future
Without soap, water containers, or a washing basin, good hygiene was beyond the family's reach. Habsa’s children were at constant risk of waterborne diseases.
With funding from the Ethiopian Humanitarian Fund (EHF), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) provided Habsa's family with soap, buckets, jerrycans and a washing basin. This was part of a multi-sectoral response for internally displaced people and refugees across priority districts including Afar, Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz, contested areas, and the Somali Region.
"For months, I worried every day about how to keep my children clean with almost nothing. Receiving these items has lifted a heavy burden from my shoulders. Now we can safely collect and store water, wash our clothes, and maintain better hygiene for my children," says Habsa.
The difference is visible. The jerrycans and buckets mean the family can transport and store clean water safely. Soap and the washing basin have restored a basic routine that most families take for granted.
For Habsa, these are the conditions under which her children can stay healthy, and the foundation for holding her family together.
"These may seem like simple items, but for families like ours they mean health, dignity and hope. My children can now grow up in a cleaner environment, and I feel more confident that I can protect them from illness. We are truly grateful for this support," she says.
Sign up to our newsletter to read more stories from around the world.