Cleaning up Niger's water
As the world's attention is focused on Niger's food crisis, UNICEF has set its sights on the provision of clean water to protect children from potentially lethal diseases.
The village of Soumarana in Niger's southern Maradi region is the epicentre of the current crisis. At one point, the only source of drinking water for the village was a contaminated well, and the unsafe water contributed to outbreaks of Guinea worm disease (a painful parasitic condition), cholera and diarrhoea, especially among children.
To bring clean water to the region and safeguard children and their families from waterborne diseases, UNICEF and its partners have helped with the installation of water pumps and a reservoir. For the price of one US cent villagers can buy 20 litres of water, which is enough for one family to use for drinking and cooking for one day. Proceeds from the sale of water are used for maintaining and extending the water system.
Residents benefit not only in terms of their improved health, but also in savings of the time and labour needed to fetch water.