(ERGO) – The Jubbaland government supported by the UN children’s fund UNICEF has been delivering water to 14 villages hit by severe water shortage around the southern Somali town of Kismayo.
Water reservoirs and boreholes in Lower Jubba region have dried up after rains failed, leaving many communities in distress without adequate water.
The state’s deputy water minister Abdirashid Mohamed Duale told Radio Ergo they have hired tankers to deliver water daily to some suburbs in Kismayu for a month starting 7 April.
“Acting on emergency situations due to the Jiilaal [hot, dry season], the ministry started an initiative to deliver water to areas hit by water shortage,” Duale said.
Five tankers have been trucking watertoAbdalla-Birole village,40km from Kismayu, according to area chief, Mukhtar Mohamed Ahmed.
“The area gets 200 barrels of water every day. Although this is not enough at least it is better than none. We distribute the water among the families,” the chief said.
With a population of 1,200 families, Abdalla-Birole ran short of water towards the end of February when the boreholes dried up.
The villagers had been buying water from Qod-Qodka and Uaq-Bisharoaround eight km away, paying $200 for a tanker of 40 barrels.
Falis Abdi Osmaan, who could not afford this, used to trek to Qod-Qodka area to fetch water herself.
“Every morning I used to drive my 20 goats for water in the village. It was hard work. I had no money to buy water so I opted to do it this way,” she explained.
Falisisrelieved to receive four 20-litre jerry cans a day from the delivery. “Though we still we have some problems, we are able now to get water for our animals and ourselves. We also have water for cooking,” she said.
The 700 families in Bar-Aleen, 18km from Kismayo, have faced water shortages since January.
Adan Mohamed Ali lauded Jubbaland government for trucking the water. His seven-member family has been getting 120 litres of water a day.
“I have 15 goats. I use this water for the animals and for drinking and cooking. The water delivery has helped us very much because before it came I was walking a long distance to collect water,” he said.
