| Author |
 Topic  |
|
mansasulu
997 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 16:10:13
|
| Momodou, do you have any updates on whether the project stated in your previous post ever started? |
"...Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest..." Sura Al-Rad (Chapter 13, Verse 28)
...Gambian by birth, Muslim by the grace of Allah... |
 |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 19:49:31
|
| Mansa, no I have no information but I doubt that it started. They would not have still complained. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2011 : 18:26:47
|
THE WATER PROBLEM IN NDOWEN PERSISTS
By Abdoulie G. Dibba
13-06-11
Ndowen, a village in Niani District in the Central River Region of the Gambia, with a cattle population of over 2000 heads and a large number of ruminants, has been suffering from the scarcity of water to the point of going to Senegal to get this life sustaining basic necessity.
According to the villagers, their demand for water is becoming overwhelming as the only existing well in the village is drying up, thus compelling them to go all the way to Kerr Mandumbeh in Senegal to buy water for their domestic consumption. The villagers called on the both the Local and Central Governments to help them address their water problem.
The Promises in 2010
Readers would recall that this reporter did raise the concerns of the people of Ndowen with the Governor of the Central River Region Ngangie Touray on 18th March 2010, at his residence in Janjangbureh. He noted that the water issue in Ndowen has been a long standing problem dating far back in the first Republic.
Governor Touray asserted that Ndowen was going to benefit from a water project that will provide a borehole with a solar panel that will ensure the flow of water from the bore hole to the tank and finally to the standpipes.. He added that the manual form of drawing water from wells in Ndowen will soon be history and not to talk of going to Senegal to buy water.
Responding on how soon is soon, Governor Touray told the reporter that a workshop would be held in a week’s time and after which a drilling team will start work in Ndowen because of the urgency for the village to have water. Governor Touray even said 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 any breakdown of the equipment the villagers will just withdraw from the account and do the necessary repair. He concluded then by saying that the Government is concerned about the plight of the Gambian people and will do everything possible to address their needs and aspirations.
It is now June 2011, more than a year since the last interview on the issue, but the villagers of Ndowen are still crying about the problem of water in their village, which they said is even worse than before.
The villagers are still calling on the Government to help them address their perennial water problem.
NOTE: Attempts to reach Governor Touray regarding his current position on the issue has proven futile up to the time of going to press. However, once we get in touch with him, we shall publish his views.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2011 : 11:16:49
|
I have just caught up with this topic.
On BBC3 this week there was a programme about the impact of tourism on Kenya. It was a very thought provoking programme, particularly about water and how it is used. There was a big golf course development with a wall built round it. This impacted local villages in two ways: firstly it used lots of water and lowered the water table in the village and secondly the wall prevented them going across the golf course to the best water supply in the area. It was a very shocking state of affairs.
Water is a basic human need and RIGHT according to the united nations. Dehydration is very serious, especially for the elderly and young children. It is shocking that Ndowen has suffered in this way for such a long time. It isn't just the availablity of the water, but the quality of the water. If animals are using the same water supply it won't be very clean. There will be water born diseases present that can seriously affect child mortality rates.
Clean water has a high impact on the health prospects of the village population. The well needs to have a cover to stop dirt and excrement from animals getting into the water. Then there needs to be a system of pipes so people can access water via a tap at various points across the village.
I wonder if any NGO's would help with this? Has Action Aid got a presence in this area? They might be worth approaching?
I have been to villages where Action Aid has greatly improved the water supply for villagers. The villagers have worked on the project and have pride in what they have achieved. How ever Action aid has now moved on to their 'second phase' which is more to do with education of women and so on...
It is shocking to think of tourists swimming in hotel pools and taking showers when ever they want, when people not very far away in the same country don't have enough water for basic household tasks and for drinking. VERY SHOCKING! |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2011 : 14:10:50
|
| Bev, the headquarters of Action Aid in the area is at Wassu which is just less than 15km from this village. However, they can not provide all that is the responisbility of Governmant or the Area Councils who collect taxes from this village. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2011 : 17:34:58
|
Of course it is Momodou no arguement about that,I suspect that if Action Aid did start this project none of the Politicos would want to be left out ,perhaps a joint programme with invited guests at the opening,and a party of course, would do something, just wants a bit of management.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2011 : 19:03:57
|
Greetings Everyone,
Momodou do you have personal contact with this project? If so you could ask them to access wateraid. They have a Regional Office in Dakar. Also they have very practical ways of assisting local projects and share the info on how local communities can dig their own wells, put in place irrigation, and clean sanitation. At present 589 million African people have no access to clean sanitation. Check out their website and pass it on. The information on there is a great resource for many local communities in Gambia and the world over.
http://sophiasewell-njie.blogspot.com/p/how-can-you-help-hungry.html
Peace
Sister Omega
|
Peace
Sister Omega |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2011 : 21:37:15
|
quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
Greetings Everyone,
Momodou do you have personal contact with this project? If so you could ask them to access wateraid.
Sister O, what project? I know the village but I don't know any project apart from what is writen in the articles above about the Governor's promises. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2011 : 23:02:52
|
Momodou, if there's no project in the village then maybe the Chief there could organize a committee to set up a village project. Then approach wateraid with their concerns and see what technical assistance they could get to solve their problems. wateraid has manuals online to assist them.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
|
|
|
Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2011 : 20:14:48
|
| Wateraid are, really, a fantastic organisation and I think it's an excellent idea to try to get them involved - I don't think they currently work in The Gambia but a project like this may attract their attention. But how can this be communicated to the people in the village? It's a lot of work to put in place (drawing up the proposals, writing the "case - study", approaching water aid and they are going to need help - anyone reading this who is in Gambia and can be of some practical help here? |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2011 : 21:02:34
|
| Thanks Lily and Sister O, I have sent a link to this topic to someone and hope that there will be a follow-up. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2011 : 02:07:40
|
Thanks Momodou for taking the initiative in taking things further. I hope your contact link up with wateraid so they can be of some assistance to Ndowen Village. I look forward to hearing about some positive developments occurring in the future.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2011 : 11:06:29
|
Sister O, I am sure you will do your part  
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2011 : 00:28:15
|
| Good news! There is an ongoing JICA (Japanish International Cooperation Agency) water project in Nowen. The borehole has now been sucessfully drilled and it is expected that there will be several stand pipes and cattle drinking points in the village. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jul 2011 : 03:09:09
|
Thanks for the update this is excellent news Momodou! |
Peace
Sister Omega |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
