dirty water

(Nile fish)

Here is a brief update on the happenings of my Sudan life:
Work related -
As part of our infrastructure development project, we have a water and sanitation component which I’m currently embedded in. We are planning programs that will provide relief and long term solution from the miserable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions here.

(water distribution)

Quick background: after decades of shooting little metal objects at high velocities towards other people, there has been absolutely no infrastructure maintenance or improvements – so obviously this place has fallen to disrepair. To compound the situation, since the peace accord was signed, more and more people are returning here and population is exploding. I don’t think anyone even has a clue how many people live here.

(bicycle water delivery)

There are two water sources in town, the bore holes and the Nile River. Some of the bore holes have been tested and contain high levels of arsenic - a metal that is not good to ingest - but the bore holes are still use by those who don't want to walk all the way to the Nile or who can't afford to pay the water delivery truck. The Nile is an abundant source, contains a lot of nasty shit in it. Just upstream is where sewage is dumped into the river, people bath up and down the banks, and who knows what all washes into it during the rainy season. Well, we know one thing...cholera. Last year there was a huge cholera outbreak, many people got really sick and many people died.

(collecting water and washing cloths and water taxi)

With a dilapidated infrastructure that can't support the influx of people, many find water at the most convenient spot, whether it is quality or not. To battle this imminent cholera season we have set up an emergency program to treat large volumes of water that is trucked around town. Additionally, we will set up storage tanks in returnee communities, communities that have suffered the greatest (mainly those who have returned after being refugees and are living in really nasty conditions). With the truck chlorination, we hit a big chunk of juba with treated water. The water won’t be perfect, but we intend to kill the little evil cholera bugs and improve on that as time goes on.
Our long term plan is a fully operating and sustainable water treatment and delivery system in these communities.

(tap stand)