QUETTA: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in collaboration with the Society of Collective Interest Orientation (Socio-Pakistan) — the implementation partner — and the provincial government completed on Tuesday its 10-month project “Improving Health & Hygiene Status of Refugees & Host Communities”.

The project completion ceremony was held at the Government Boys School where Quetta Mayor Kaleem Ullah Kakar was the chief guest.

The main objective of the project was to bring long-term improvement to the general health of local population. The project helped in reducing mortality and morbidity rates associated with water borne and vector diseases.

The total intended beneficiaries standing at 120,000 comprised 72,000 from host and 38,000 from refugee communities.

The UNHCR initiated the project on Jan 1 this year which was aimed at improving the health and hygiene of the population residing along the passage of sewerage water in Killi Kotwal, Killi Arsalan and the surrounding Union Council#49. The project was implemented from the platform of the Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (Raha).

The project worth Rs25.79 million had helped in construction of main sewerage channel, slab culverts, pipe culvert, tools for garbage collection, cleaning of drainage channel (Nala), cleaning of area and distribution of health and hygiene kits. It also included imparting trainings, on solid waste management, hand washing, health and hygiene, sustainability and self-reliance, to teachers and community members.

The UNHCR Head of Sub-Office Quetta, Marin Din Kajdomcaj appreciated the generosity of the Pakistani government and its people for hosting millions of refugees for nearly four decades.

He said that the UNHCR understood the challenges of host communities while Raha helped in bringing betterment to the lives of host population.