Pit latrines in Nepal : the refugee dimension

The influx of 86,000 Bhutanese refugees into eastern Nepal during 1992 and 1993 created many problems especially in crowded camps where uncontrolled defecation polluted the groundwater leading to high levels of diarrhoeal infection, cholera, and typhoid. Working with refugee camp communities, the Lutheran World Service in only three years has managed to oversee the building of over 8000 ventilated improved double-pit (VIDP) latrines. Careful monitoring has shown that the proper use of these latrines, encouraged through education, has resulted in a dramatic reduction of diarrhoeal infection across all camps. This article describes the design of the latrines (with diagrams) and explains how they are constructed through a combination of prefabricated latrine "kits" (made in the camps), and encouraging refugees to assemble their latrines themselves. The results show almost total acceptance of the technology and of the personal hygiene messages with 98 per cent of refugees having stopped their traditional practice of open defecation and 80 per cent now washing their hands after defecating. The VIDP is a cheap and relatively simple technology which can be used in other similar refugee situations.