Currently, 70% of the world’s population does not have access to an electric washing machine (TED, 2010). Of those that do have access, regular malfunctions and power outages can necessitate a return to hand washing clothes. Hand washing is time-consuming, has a number of negative health implications and requires clean water which is often a limited resource in camps. This study, conducted in Iraqi Kurdistan, looks at the effect of handwashing on 79 Yazidi families across 3 camps and provides recommendations on how a manually powered, portable washing machine could significantly benefit the lives of beneficiaries.

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