Joining Forces to Combat Protracted Crises: Humanitarian and Development Support for Water and Sanitation Providers in the Middle East and North Africa Format The search for ways to improve our collective response has led the World Bank, UNICEF and the ICRC to publish a new report today called, “Joining Forces to Combat Protracted Crises: Humanitarian and Development Support for Water and Sanitation Providers in the Middle East and North Africa.” It is based on case studies from the field, as well as inputs from the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) and multiple water and sanitation service providers. People living in densely populated cities are supported by an intricate mesh of water, sanitation, health and electricity systems. When these systems are attacked and neglected for prolonged periods of time, when large numbers of people take refuge in cities – as they have done across water scarce Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – systems become vulnerable to collapse. Does it matter what condition systems were in before the crisis? As actors respond to urgent needs is it possible to reverse system decline before the next crisis comes?