Residents of Dzaleka have been urged to take greater responsibility for hygiene as concerns grow over limited funding for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services.

The call was made on Wednesday by Refugee Support Officer Raymond Chimbewa from the Department for Refugees under the Ministry of Homeland Security during a community clean-up campaign in the camp.

The activity was organised by the Department for Refugees together with community members and Refugee-Led Organisations (RLOs), including Community Servant and Family Health Promotion (FHP), who are currently supporting WASH and sanitation activities amid funding gaps linked to donor fatigue.

The RLOs have continued to play a key role in providing humanitarian support within the camp, particularly in hygiene promotion and sanitation services.

Speaking to Yetu FM, Chimbewa said cleanliness should not be left to authorities alone, urging residents to take ownership of hygiene practices at household and community level.

He warned that overcrowding in the camp increases the risk of communicable disease outbreaks if sanitation is not properly managed.

Chimbewa also noted that communities inside the camp have the potential to contribute to national development if given opportunities to work and move more freely across the country.

Community Servant and Family Health Promotion joined the Department for Refugees in carrying out hygiene awareness activities at the entrance of the camp as part of the clean-up campaign.

Community Servant representative Wibuta Kabiona supported the message, saying active community participation is key to preventing the spread of infectious diseases.