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Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Jul 2007 : 02:02:24
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VILLAGERS GRAPPLE WITH WATER SHORTAGE
By Musa Barrow
Villagers of Jah Kunda and Fadiya Kunda in Wuli West District have been experiencing acute water shortage for over one year. The water crisis in these two villages which share the same solar pump was caused by the breakdown of this pump.
As a result, the availability of clean drinking water in these aforesaid villages have proved to be a major problem. The only sources of water for these villages are wells which are uncovered.
Moreover, the depth of these wells is (42) meters on average. Women have to use ropes to draw water out of the wells, which is such a daunting task. Sometimes, it takes these women a great deal of time before filling their water containers. This is due to the fact that too many women fetch water at wells at the same time.
Consequently, this uphill task of fetching water coupled with the domestic work put women in these two villages under enormous pressure. They often wonder ‘when shall this predicament end?’. And now that the rainy season had begun, these women have to divide their time between their farm work and domestic works, including fetching water from such deep wells. These women are therefore compelled this shortage to fetch water either by waking up early in the morning before going to the farms or after returning home from the farms in the afternoon.
Cattle owners in these villages have also had their fair share of the adverse effects of water shortage; the wells which were previously exclusive to them are now overcrowded with women. These cattle owners due to the size of their herds have to use horses to pull water out of these deep wells. The burning sun often takes its toll on these herdsmen, who usually draw water under the hot sun.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the spare part which is missing from the solar pump and causing cessation of operations is currently being sought in France. The amount generated for the purchase of the spare part is said to be contributed by people who hail from the two villages and are living overseas.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 86/2007, 25-26 July, 2007
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