Press Release
People in Need completed a pipe scheme funded by the European Commission, providing drinking water to 7000 draught affected people in Bazare Suchta, Samangan province, Afghanistan
Mazar-e Sharif, 5th October 2006,
For immediate release
People In Need (PIN) has completed and started the operation of a pipe scheme delivering drinking water to the inhabitants of Bazare Suchta, the administrative centre of Darai Suf Bolo in Samangan province.
This completely deforested mountain district has been heavily affected by previous armed conflicts and several years of drought. The lack of safe water has contributed to the outbreak of water born diseases.
With a capacity of 40 thousands liters and more than 7 000 users, the pipe scheme represents another contribution to the ongoing effort for improvement of household sanitation and personal hygiene in the region.
"As a father, I am very happy for the pipe scheme - said Sheikh Hussain Alli, Head of local CDCs - because my children can drink clean water while attending our school. As a shopkeeper I don't have to transfer water from the river anymore and our bazaar becomes cleaner place for every visitor."
Water collected from protected springs is brought into a 30 cubic meters reservoir and distributed by gravity pipes to more than 30 consumption spots. A four kilometers pipe system is designed to supply 200 families living in a heavily populated area with clean potable water. A number of shop keepers as well as pupils attending the local school started to benefit from 15 tap stands and smaller reservoir located in the administrative and trade heart of the district.
PIN has completed the project as one of the components of a drinking water supply programme funded by the European Commission for the drought affected area of Darai Suf. The European Commission contributed to the programme a total of 583.097 Euros, while the pipe scheme component alone cost 50.000 Euros.
Other related activities consist of construction of new water sources, hygiene promotion training and latrine construction. To ensure the sustainability of all programs outputs, operation and maintenance systems are being set up simultaneously with the establishment of the Village Water Committees and training of their members.
PIN is a Czech NGO that provides humanitarian and development assistance in crisis regions. Since December 2001, PIN has been active in Afghanistan, focusing mainly on education, reintegration of refugees, water & sanitation and rural rehabilitation and development.
PIN has been working in the district of Darai Suf, Samangan province, for over three years, being the only international NGO with permanent presence in the district since the fall of the Taliban regime.
End.
For further information about the project, please contact:
Mr. Ondrej Horvath, PIN Program Officer
ondrej.horvath@peopleinneed.cz
This project is funded by
the European Union
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
