“We are not used to fetching water from a borehole,” says 25-year old Sara Tarakila. She is standing at one of the boreholes rehabilitated by ACT member the Lutheran World Federation, talking to James Drichi, one of the LWF staff in charge of the water, sanitation and hygiene promotion in Nyumanzi refugee settlement, in Adjumani, north Uganda. Drichi advises the chairperson of the borehole and shows the community how to keep the borehole clean and how to pump so they do not destroy the pump.
“We are very happy to be here in safety in Uganda, and it is good that we can now get enough water. Before we were struggling, there was not enough water, but now things are improving here,” Tarakila says and smiles. She is among the thousands of South Sudanese forced to flee to Uganda where she could find safety from the fighting which erupted late last year.
When refugees fled to Uganda, the LWF was among the first to arrive at Dzaipi, providing refugees with basic needs such as 2000 plastic cups, 2000 plates, 1000 water jerry cans and seven tons of soap. The LWF has rehabilitated four boreholes in Nyumanzi settlement, and drilled six new boreholes – three for the refugees and one for the host community.
As part of the support to rehabilitate boreholes and build new ones, the Lutheran World Federation is also planning to ensure the host community benefit from their support. “This is important in order to ensure peaceful co-existence between the refugees and the host community,” says Drichi.
Support to Ugandans help ensure peaceful co-existence It is afternoon and the dust is hanging in the air and there is noise around the borehole. A large number of jerry cans and containers are lined up, as many women are waiting to fetch water. It has not rained for months here. Aurelia Mesiku is the chairperson of the borehole.
“This borehole did not work for long, but the LWF came and repaired it. Before I had to fetch water 3km away but now it is near my home. I am happy it has been repaired. The only worry I have is that many people now share this borehole,” Aurelia says.
“I was a refugee and went from Uganda to Sudan when I was just 13 years old. I am happy that we can also welcome the South Sudanese here,” says 30-year-old Mesiku, a native of Adjumani district.
Still need for more support Currently, the situation in Nyumanzi in regards to water is critical. There is only 7.3 litres of water to one person per day, yet humanitarian standards like SPHERE recommend 15 litres per person in one day.
“The situation is improving, but we are not yet there at all. We still need to construct at least 90 boreholes, as well as latrines and bathing shelters. As Nyumanzi gets full, we need to also construct and rehabilitate in the new settlements,” says Arnold Kasoba, the UNHCR’s water, sanitation and hygiene officer in Adjumani.
UNHCR team leader Amr Marei also emphasises the need for more support to the refugee response: “I was thinking about where there are gaps today, and there are gaps everywhere at the moment.”
ACT members are supporting the refugees of South Sudan in Uganda with this appeal.