New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy
Hygiene and Sanitation
Hygiene and Sanitation
In both the Aleppo and Djedeide–Baalbek areas some units were quartered in buildings, and others in hutted and/or tented camps. At the time of occupation the huts were dirty and many were in a state of disrepair. This condition was largely rectified and straw palliasses were provided for all troops.
The sanitary arrangements in buildings varied considerably but, in general, were made satisfactory. In the camps, deep-trench page 322 latrines, soakage-pit urinals, and fluid refuse soakage pits with cold-water grease taps were in use. Difficulties in the construction of these and in their proper maintenance was caused by the rocky and non-porous nature of the ground. These difficulties were overcome by the use of compressors and explosives. Swill was removed by contractors under brigade arrangements and the remaining dry refuse was burnt.