Assessment of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Conditions in Refugee Settlements in Cross River State, South South Nigeria

Cross River State hosts communities of displaced Cameroonian refugees, creating humanitarian environmental health responsibilities for local and national authorities. This descriptive study assessed water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions in two refugee settlements in Ogoja, Cross River State, South South Nigeria. Data were collected through structured household surveys administered to 250 refugee household heads, facility assessments using SPHERE standard checklists, and physical inspection of water supply infrastructure and sanitation facilities. Key informant interviews were held with UN agency and NGO officials managing the settlements. Findings revealed that the water supply system met the minimum SPHERE standard of fifteen litres per person per day in only one of the two settlements assessed. Latrine coverage was one toilet per thirty-eight persons, exceeding the recommended one per twenty persons standard. Handwashing facilities with soap were available at fewer than thirty percent of assessed latrines. Solid waste management was largely absent, with refuse accumulation in communal areas. Self-reported diarrheal illness in the previous two weeks was documented in thirty-two percent of households with children under five. Focus group discussions revealed that language barriers, cultural norms, and distrust of authorities hindered uptake of hygiene promotion messages. Recommendations include WASH infrastructure upgrades, culturally adapted hygiene promotion, and robust intersectoral coordination between UNHCR, state agencies, and local government. Keywords: refugee settlements, WASH, humanitarian standards, Cross River State, water sanitation.