Chronic and acute food insecurity are ongoing problems in Eastern Africa. The impact of climate shocks is often exacerbated by conflicts that increase household vulnerability and inability to cope and recover. In Somalia, Puntland regions have experienced severe drought from two consecutive failed rainy seasons, the drought has resulted in widespread water crises and poor food access. Due to the scarcity of water, Puntland’s most affected areas water prices have increased by between 10 and 25 per cent!
Furthermore, the water crisis has meant that the adoption of good hygiene practices is hindered by insufficient water. Children are the most vulnerable when lacking access to clean water, cases of diarrhoea and skin infections among children, are largely related to reduced and untreated water emanating from the insufficient water supply. Schools are facing water shortages and many lack water storage facilities. This is leading to a lack of water for drinking and cooking meals, and increasing the risk of disease, while reducing participation of girls in school who are sent to fetch water, often then risking exposure to gender-based violence.
Aisha* and her family collect water. Mothers in Wiriir village of Somaliland carry jerry cans and walk for long distance to fetch water for their families. It has not rained in the area since last year and water points are drying up fast. The area is facing severe water shortages and people depend on water trucking from humanitarian organisations like Save the Children.
Save the Children’s Emergency Fund has allocated £120,000 to undertake water trucking for 20 days for 15 villages under three districts in Puntland. In this life-saving response, we will aim to reach 15,720 children and their families through water trucking in the most affected drought villages.
Thank you to Castle Water customers and employees for supporting Save the Children’s Emergency Fund and making this vital work possible.