On World Toilet Day, we recognize an often overlooked yet essential element of humanitarian aid: safe, clean and accessible toilets.  

For hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Haiti, access to sanitation is a basic need that directly impacts their health, dignity, and safety. This year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) emphasizes the critical role of sanitation facilities in Haiti’s displacement sites, where needs are growing. Here are five reasons why toilets are essential and what IOM is doing about it. 

1. Toilets are critical to public health 

In Haiti’s crowded displacement sites, clean and accessible toilets make a world of difference to public health. Without proper sanitation, diseases like cholera and typhoid can spread rapidly, endangering thousands. Displaced people in Haiti have consistently highlighted health as a primary reason for needing safe toilets. 

IOM is actively safeguarding public health by constructing latrines, distributing hygiene kits, cleaning and maintenance materials, and raising awareness on safe sanitation practices, helping prevent disease outbreaks, like cholera, and protect the most vulnerable communities.  

2. Toilets uphold dignity, privacy, and safety 

Sanitation facilities go beyond health—they are essential for human dignity, privacy, and safety, especially in crowded displacement sites. Latrines offer individuals, particularly women and girls, a safe, private space to address personal hygiene needs and manage menstruation without fear of harassment or violence. Many displaced individuals in Haiti highlighted dignity as a key factor in wanting access to these facilities.  

“For us, women and girls, access to toilets is essential for managing menstruation safely and with dignity. It also reduces the risk of harassment and violence.” 

Having access to a private toilet allows me to attend to my personal hygiene needs, without fear of being seen or judged. This is especially important in our crowded or communal living situations where privacy is scarce.

Without proper facilities, people are often forced to seek isolated areas for personal needs, increasing their risk of exposure to harm. IOM addresses this by strategically placing latrines in accessible, well-lit areas to improve safety for all, ensuring no one is left behind. In Haiti’s displacement sites, ensuring sanitation facilities are safe and accessible is a priority, reflected by needs expressed by beneficiaries: 

“Toilets provide me a sense of normalcy and respect. Being able to use a clean, safe, and private toilet helps maintain my dignity, which can be impacted by displacement and the loss of personal space.” 

3. Toilets protect the environment 

Without adequate sanitation, open defecation can contaminate water sources and pollute the environment, creating additional health hazards. Proper latrines mitigate these risks, helping to protect both people and their surroundings. 

By constructing and maintaining latrines, IOM is helping to reduce pollution and safeguard natural resources, contributing to a healthier environment for displaced communities. 

4. Displaced communities identify Toilets as a priority 

IOM’s recent baseline survey highlighted that hygiene, health, and safety are top concerns among displaced individuals in Haiti. These priorities underscore why IOM continues to focus on sanitation as a core component of humanitarian assistance in these communities. 

The availability of toilets can reduce stress and anxiety, contributing to better mental health for displaced people like us.

IOM’s commitment on World Toilet Day 

This World Toilet Day, IOM renews its commitment to addressing urgent sanitation needs in Haiti’s displacement sites. This year, IOM desludged 831 cubic meters from 18 displacement sites, benefitting over 32,000 displaced people. The Organization continuously works with partners to facilitate the distribution of hygiene kits to over thousands of people, and hold regular awareness sessions to promote safe sanitation practices. 

Yet, the need is vast, and continued support from international partners is critical. As we mark World Toilet Day, IOM calls on the global community to stand together in meeting these fundamental needs. Toilets are about far more than convenience—they are a cornerstone of health, safety, and dignity. Every displaced person deserves access to this essential service.