Improving Quality Of Life Through Water Access

Summary

Through combined regional and country advocacy, Action Against Hunger Ethiopia was able to influence the German Embassy in Ethiopia to support the rehabilitation and maintenance of Labihawle-2 Deep Well in Somali region. The deep water well, which had been in disrepair since 2022 was vital in water security as it provided water for drinking, livestock and farming.

Detailed Story

For many people in the west, access to water is as easy as simply turning on the tap. But this is not the case for 56-year-old Mr Bishar Ali, in Somali region of Ethiopia who takes eight hours to trek to the nearest clean water access point. ?Despite numerous United nation and Africa Union resolutions recognizing access to water as a fundamental human right, over 200 millions of people in Africa still have no access to clean drinking water.

In Ethiopia, the government in partnership with stakeholders, has been working to improve access to clean water especially in rural communities like the one where Mr. Bishar Ali comes from. The government initiated the construction of Labihawle-2 Deep Well which provided clean drinking water for Bishar, his community and over 250,000 people.

In addition, the deep well provided water for livestock and farming. However, in 2022, the well failed to function after its pumping system failed. ?According to Mr. Bishar, the failure of the well’s pumping system was the beginning of all their water problems as the area was also experiencing a severe drought.

‘The failure of the well spelt disaster for our community as we had to trek for hours with our animals to access water.’

During a site visit and community engagement forum by Action Against Hunger Regional and Country advocacy teams in Marsin Woreda, Somali region, the community requested for support in repairing and rehabilitating the Labihawle-2 Deep Well.

Action Against Hunger Ethiopia jointly with the Regional Water Bureau, undertook a fact finding mission on the status of the pump and found out that the borehole pump was completely damaged and needed replacement.

Through Advocacy engagements with the German Embassy in Ethiopia, Action Against Hunger successfully influenced them to provide funding assistance for repair and maintenance of two dep water wells in the region. One of this was the Labihawle-2 Deep Well. For decades, the German Embassy has provided humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia to help combat acute malnutrition, food crises and improve livelihoods.

In December 2023, repair works began and in April 2024, Action Against Hunger, working with the regional water bureau successfully completed the installations, rehabilitation and maintenance of the Labihawle Deep Well 1 and 2. For Labihawle Deep Well 1, it involved the installation of a pump and a switch board system.

?‘When I saw they had started the installation of the borehole, I felt a great sense of relief as I would no longer trek for many hours to get water for my family and livestock’

The community is very grateful for the repair and rehabilitation of the well as it has helped thousands of people get adequate access to safe drinking water and no longer have to cut across long desert roads to get jerry cans filled with unsafe water. Most of all, the provision of clean water helped minimize the spread of infectious diseases such as cholera.