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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Jan 2010 : 19:40:33
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Ndowen village in acute water shortage, villagers trek kilometers to buy water
Thursday, 31 December 2009
 The village of Ndowen in the Niani district of the Central River Region (CRR) is facing an acute scarcity of water, forcing villagers to trek several kilometers to buy water from a neighbouring village in Senegal.
Speaking to this correspondent, Pierre Bah, the chief of the district, said water scarcity in the area has in recent times worsened to such an extent that villagers trek some 3 kilometres to buy water from Kerr Manunbeh a village in Senegal at 20 CFA per twenty liter container.
It is pathetic, he said, that the most affected are the women and children, who fetch water from an open well in the village.
According to him, Ndowen has a population of over 5,000 inhabitants and over 6,000 livestock ranging from cattle, sheep, goats, horses and donkeys.
He said the acute shortage of water is compounded by the fact that all the livestock in the village drink from the only available well in the area.
"Sometimes the villagers will draw water and within hours the well is empty, and they have to wait for several hours for water to come up again," he revealed.
Chief Bah used the occasion to appeal to the Gambia government, NGOs and philanthropists to come to their aid.
Faced with this situation, Chief Pierre Bah has warned residents of the village to avoid starting bushfires. "The grasses are dry, and they can easily catch fire," he advised.
Author: Abdurrahman Sallah
Source: The Point Online
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2010 : 23:47:28
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This situation needs to be sorted out immediately by the Gambian Authorities to tackle this problem before it truly gets out of hand. The Village of Ndowen will disappear if a solution isn't found quickly. This situation should alert the government about what is happening in Ndowen is a early warning signal of famine and that Pa Ousman Jarju Department of Water Resources who was one of the Chief Negotiators in Copenhagen last month should turn his attention to remedy the situation in the Niani District before it spirals out of control. Ndowen is a crisis waiting to happen. Therefore the Water Resources Department needs to turn its attention by allocating more resources to find solutions for this untenable situation these villagers find themselves in as it cannot go on indefinitely because the people of Ndowen need assistance now!
Peace
Sisater Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 05 Jan 2010 00:13:32 |
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mbay
Germany
1007 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 11:17:38
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According to him, Ndowen has a population of over 5,000 inhabitants and over 6,000 livestock ranging from cattle, sheep, goats, horses and donkeys.
He said the acute shortage of water is compounded by the fact that all the livestock in the village drink from the only available well in the area.
"Sometimes the villagers will draw water and within hours the well is empty, and they have to wait for several hours for water to come up again," he revealed
i just dont get here, so there is no posiblity for them to digiy wells?
Chief Bah used the occasion to appeal to the Gambia government, NGOs and philanthropists to come to their aid.
Some time you must help yourself to come out of your problems.
I do not know if men in this village are lazy but in my own village, I found too many lazy guys there, Working (if) just a quarter - day, the rest is for funny!
In this type of wood-water shortage, women are the most bonded and men/boys are doing their things instead of rolling up their sleeves and do the right thing.
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Edited by - mbay on 05 Jan 2010 11:18:29 |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 11:47:24
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GREAT post and advice mbay,Thanks.
quote:
Some time you must help yourself to come out of your problems.
I do not know if men in this village are lazy but in my own village, I found too many lazy guys there, Working (if) just a quarter - day, the rest is for funny!
In this type of wood-water shortage, women are the most bonded and men/boys are doing their things instead of rolling up their sleeves and do the right thing.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 05 Jan 2010 15:29:08 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 20:42:46
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| The wells are very deep in this village. I believe the ground water is somewhere between 75 to 100m below the surface. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 21:07:55
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Momodou,Thanks for that information, I cannot remember in the postings reading anything about the groundwater being so far down to haul a bucket from such a depth is very unusual, I would have thought that Chief BAH would have mentioned that fact to gain further attention to the plight of the village,instead he said "that the most affected are the women and children,who fetch water from an open well in the village." (a child hauling water from a 100m deep well  )
their story would have had a great deal more impact instead of the apparant misunderstanding that Mbay and I have experienced.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 05 Jan 2010 21:10:43 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 21:26:19
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The picture above is infact from the same village in 1999 during a visit with Danish students. They use a fixed pulley to draw water, also by using horses. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2010 : 21:37:20
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I hope they find water. Well water taste far better than even fountain/spring water.
These wells make village life very interesting.
As a normad, a village boy...we had some wells in the outskirrts of the village where we provided water for the cows.
yj |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2010 : 19:45:20
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This is the latest on this story, the cost of watermeters at D6000 each!,followed by Cashpower meters at D4500,supplied by NAWEC.way beyond the means of many Gambians.
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/darboe-blames-tap-water-sale-on-mixed-priorities
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Lawyer Ousainou Darboe the leader of the main opposition party, United Democratic Party (UDP) in The Gambia, has blamed public tap water sale on mixed priorities.
"If we have set priorities in our development program on issues and matters that need to be addressed urgently, we will addressed these matters once and for all", Mr. Darboe said, speaking in an exclusive interview with this reporter at his office in Banjul last Monday.
Mr Darboe cited Farafenni and a village called Ndawen in the same area that are affected.
"I personally went to Ndawen and spent the night there and, honestly, in the morning, I could not even have water to wash my face. And Ndawen was the seat of the chief of Niani at that time.
"So I think Government really should get its act together to address issues that are of concern to the people, not white elephant projects like the rural electrification, when the rural people cannot even pay the bills for electricity because it is too expensive".
"No one will pay D6, 000 for a meter, when you cannot provide two bags of rice in your house. So the priority should be water supply. And I hope that both central and local government will address this issue urgently for us to make use of water in our various ways," he added.
According to Mr. Darboe, water is life. "We can't live without water under any circumstances. You can't even perform your religious rites correctly without water. So water is everything and it is regretting that in the 21st century Gambian people could buy water due to scarcity of water in a large settlement like Farafenni. Rural electrification program should go hand in hand with water supply for the rural areas. In fact, priority should be rural water supply rather than rural electrification."
He said that the local government authorities have a responsibility to ensure that water is available to the residents within their various local government administrative areas, adding that no Government, whether local or central government, is worth its salt if it cannot provide water for its citizens.
Concerning the remuneration of farmers for their produce, Mr. Darboe said "no one can deny that the biggest work force in this country is constituted by 'trade season, because they earn wages only once in year."
"Farmers are looking forward to their earnings after three to four months of hardwork in the field under the hot sun. At the end of the day, they want to realise the fruits of their hardwork and sweat", Mr Darboe added.
The farmers are not in a position to provide markets for themselves to sell their produce. They are not in position to even determine the prices for their own produce nor to create a viable market for them, Mr Darboe continued, further declaring that "all this should be provided for by the Government or probably with other stakeholders".
"It is unpardonable that after all this toil, the farmers should go without realising their wages. I know that in November, after a very good rain and harvest, the farmers were looking forward to having a very good trade season".
"So we are advising that whosoever is responsible for these marketing facilities should ensure that this year's trade season is not like past seasons, when farmers were left to go to the lumos to sell their produce. This was what I said in my New Year message. There should not be any owing them," he said.
Author: Alieu Jabang
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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monday
43 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2010 : 02:35:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
The picture above is infact from the same village in 1999 during a visit with Danish students. They use a fixed pulley to draw water, also by using horses.
Momodou, could u pls give me some information about Ndowen. I have checked the map but it seems a bit far from the Senegalese border; In fact I can´t locate Kerr Manunden, Senegal on the map.
http://itouchmap.com/?c=ga&UF=-1200851&UN=-1765167&DG=PPL
I have a particular interest in this water crises, so I need some information. Beside, Momodou, if anyone can supply information about Ndowen and its surrounding, pls post it. Thanks
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
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monday
43 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2010 : 01:14:03
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Thanks Momodou, but in the map it is referred to as Njokul Ndowen (A1)and not A4 as you directed; Njokul Ndowen is just above Nyakoi, hope it is the same village we're talking about. To be honest I have no idea about that area, so I wouldn't know if it is the same Ndowen with water crises or not.
There is no Ndowen in A4 of the map, or may be I could not find it. Moreover, A4 is way away from the senegalse border, so it is probably Njokul Ndowen, please help me out. Thanks for the maps/links. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2010 : 12:23:41
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quote:
Originally posted by mondayThanks Momodou, but in the map it is referred to as Njokul Ndowen (A1)and not A4 as you directed; Njokul Ndowen is just above Nyakoi
Sorry, I meant to write A1. Yes its the one called Njokul Ndowen on the map. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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monday
43 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2010 : 15:47:44
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| Thanks Momodou |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 22 Mar 2010 : 19:55:29
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THE LIFE OF THE RURAL PEOPLE- Part 10 “NDOWEN WILL HAVE PIPE BORNE WATER THIS YEAR” Says Governor CRR
By Abdoulie G. Dibba
22-03-10
Ndowen, a village in Niani District in the Central River Region of the Gambia, with a cattle population of over 2000 heads and a high number of small ruminants, will have a standpipe this year, said Governor Ngangie Touray, in an interview with this reporter. Readers would recall that Ndowen has been suffering from scarcity of water for decades now. This, according to Governor Touray, is a problem of concern to Government.
According to the villagers, their demand for water from the only existing well in the village is very high. They experience shortages of water whenever the single well dries up thus compelling them to go all the way to Kerr Mandumbeh in neighbouring Senegal to buy water for their domestic consumption. The villagers called on both the Local and Central Government authorities to help them address their water problem.
This reporter put the question to the Governor of the Central River Region Ngangie Touray on Thursday 18th March, 2010 at Janjang bureh to know whether there are concrete plans and not just mere promises to address the concerns of the people of Ndowen.
Talking to this reporter on the issue, Governor Touray noted that the water problem in Ndowen has been a long standing issue dating far back in the first Republic.
He indicated that Ndowen will benefit from a water project that will provide a bore hole with a solar panel. He said the borehole will supply water to a tank which will be linked to standpipes for the villagers to draw water and that this Project will commence very soon.
On how soon is soon, Governor Touray said a workshop will be held early this week and after which the drilling team will start work in Ndowen due to the urgency for them have water in the village. Governor Touray however indicated that the villagers have to pay D25,000 (Twenty-five thousand Dalasi)which will be deposited in a Bank as the village account so that in case of a breakdown of any equipment used, the villagers will withdraw from the account and do the necessary repairs. Governor Touray concluded by saying that the Government is concern about the plight of the Gambian people and will do everything possible to address them.
Editorial Note
The reporter will go to Ndowen to monitor the project and find out how they intend to mobilise the sum of 25,000 dalasi that is being requested from them .We will also try to find out how much Ndowen is paying in as tax annually and to what use it is put. As the old slogan goes “No taxation without representation”. In short, Governments are established to utilise public funds to provide public services. Governments that are concerned with the plight of the people must not increase their financial burden in order to provide vital services whose absence means death.
Source: Foroyaa Online |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 15:15:20
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No Running Water in Ndawen
By Pateh Baldeh
on 07-02-11
The People of Ndawen in Niani have informed Foroyaa of their difficulties in getting water in their village.
According to the villagers there are approximately 100 compounds in this highly populated village with only one well functioning.
Speaking to this reporter in a recent visit to the village both Ebou Ndow and Mamadou Gai expressed concern on the challenges they and their families face to get water to drink not to talk about satisfying the needs of their animals and for other domestic purposes. They said the whole village has only one well functioning. According to them it makes it very difficult for them to keep their animals with them. The two said most of the villagers do travel to the neighbouring Senegal to fetch water for their families. This compels them to travel many kilometres to go Senegal . This has affected the construction of buildings. They said a series of complaints have been given to some NGOs and the local authorities in the area but nothing has been done to remedy their water problem.
The two elderly people called on those concerned to come to their aid as they can’t do without water and they really need clean water for their families. They said the women in the village suffer a great deal to complete their domestic chores on time even though they do wake up very early in the morning to fetch water but would wait for their turn before they could get water.
Three women namely Fatou Sai Bajan, Fatou Gai and Sainabou Ndow, while speaking to this reporter highlighted their suffering in getting water. They showed him their callous hands caused by the rope which has to be pulled daily from a well that is extremely deep. According to them they as women have a lot of domestic responsibilities but their execution is delayed due to the time they spend at the well struggling to fetch water. They said they would have to stand for hours before they could get water as they have to wait for their turn. According to them they have very little time to rest and sleep as they either wake up as early as 4 or 5 am or stay until after midnight to get water.
The women expressed interest in embarking on horticultural gardening but they could not due to the lack water in the village.
The women of these villages therefore called on the government, the local authorities, NGOs and all those stakeholders who can come to their aid to do so.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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