Editing Médecins Sans Frontières (section)

===Water and sanitation===
Clean water is essential for [[hygiene]], for consumption and for feeding programmes (for mixing with powdered therapeutic milk or porridge), as well as for preventing the spread of [[water-borne disease]].<ref>MSF Article (2001) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=EAB52196-2CA6-4A93-A46CD6603BBC668D&method=full_html MSF: Water and Health] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222540/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=EAB52196-2CA6-4A93-A46CD6603BBC668D&method=full_html |date=27 September 2007 }} MSF. Retrieved 28 December 2005.</ref> As such, MSF water engineers and volunteers must create a source of clean water. This is usually achieved by modifying an existing [[water well]], by digging a new well and/or starting a water treatment project to obtain clean water for a population. Water treatment in these situations may consist of storage sedimentation, [[water filtration|filtration]] and/or [[Water chlorination|chlorination]] depending on available resources.<ref>MSF Article (2002) [https://web.archive.org/web/20010722070738/http://www.refugeecamp.org/learnmore/water/simple_water_treatment.htm Simple water treatment] '''MSF-UAE'''. Retrieved 28 December 2005.</ref>

Sanitation is an essential part of field missions, and it may include education of local medical staff in proper [[Sterilization (microbiology)|sterilisation]] techniques, [[sewage treatment]] projects, proper [[Waste management|waste disposal]], and education of the population in personal hygiene. Proper wastewater treatment and water sanitation are the best way to prevent the spread of serious water-borne diseases, such as cholera.<ref>MSF Article (2001) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=3D056CA9-5F50-401F-906979CA03089B2D&method=full_html Cholera definition and MSF treatment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060129095629/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=3D056CA9-5F50-401F-906979CA03089B2D&method=full_html |date=29 January 2006 }} MSF. Retrieved 28 December 2005.</ref> Simple wastewater treatment systems can be set up by volunteers to protect drinking water from contamination.<ref>MSF Article (2002) [https://web.archive.org/web/20010722071139/http://www.refugeecamp.org/learnmore/water/wastewater.htm Removal and treatment of wastewater] '''MSF-UAE'''. Retrieved 28 December 2005.</ref> Garbage disposal could include pits for normal waste and incineration for [[medical waste]].<ref>MSF Article (2002) [https://web.archive.org/web/20010722070520/http://www.refugeecamp.org/learnmore/water/refuse_pit.htm Refuse pit] '''MSF-UAE'''. Retrieved 28 December 2005.</ref> However, the most important subject in sanitation is the education of the local population, so that proper waste and water treatment can continue once MSF has left the area.