KATHMANDU: Several public schools in Biratnagar of Morang district have been providing contaminated water to students, reported the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Nepal today. The report states, "A study in 14 government schools of Biratnagar, conducted between December 1 and 31 by Nagarik Sarokar Manch, concluded that more than 30 per cent of the schools have been providing contaminated drinking water to their students. The team arrived at the conclusion after testing water samples from the schools' tube wells". NSM had collected water samples and observed the status of toilets in the schools over a month. Elsewhere, over 300 households of five villages in Dadeldhura district are considering to leave the area permanently after facing an extreme shortage of drinking water, adds the report. Citing media reports, the UN agency stated that the villagers were preparing to leave the settlement within a month, after no resources could be mobilised to launch a project to provide safe drinking water. According to a recent assessment made by Nepal Water for Health in five districts across the country, the sanitation status of schools, health posts and the VDC offices was pathetic. The study consisted of on-site visits of toilets and water facilities in the schools, VDC offices and health posts. Despite efforts made by humanitarian partners, including the government, poor hygiene continues to be a problem in all study districts. Out of 960 toilets visited in 62 community schools, condition of only 163 toilets was satisfactory. There were no toilets in 215 schools at all. Adolescent girls complained that they could not go to the school during their menstruation due to the lack of toilets in the schools. Out of 69 VDC offices, satisfactory sanitation was reported in only 14. However, 30 of them were without toilets. In addition to the need for reconstruction and maintenance of the toilets in public places, there is a dire need to provide water.