Use of stabilised soil blocks for latrine construction: experiences from Darfur, Sudan

Environmental degradation has increased rapidly in Darfur due to cumulative effects of climate change and human impact. Excessive clearing of forests to power kilns for bricks and firewood is quite rampant. The impact on the environment is quite enormous and requires urgent attention by all concerned parties. Tearfund has since 2008 started promoting the use of low cost environmentally friendly technology through the use of Stabilized Soil Blocks (SSB) in an effort to curb forest destruction as a result of excessive cutting down of tress to burn bricks. The organisation has purchased Stabilized Soil Block machines and has been training communities on the fabrication of the blocks and also promoting the use of these blocks instead of the fired bricks. SSBs have been used for latrine construction at schools, clinics and mosques in West and South Darfur. Tearfund has also extended the use of SSBs to the construction of classroom blocks at a number of schools in Darfur. The purpose of this paper is to promote the use of SSBs by sharing some experiences and lessons learnt from Darfur.