Waiting for the 22th of March. Reflecting on the situation of water in Karamoja
On March 22nd the World Water Day, an event that is becoming increasingly important from year to year, will be celebrated. Pollution, climate change, waste, seem to have reduced the amount of drinking water in the world. In Karamoja this problem has always been felt in a dramatic way and, on the occasion of the approaching of this day Daniele, our collaborator in Moroto, has sent us his reflection.
«The water sector has always been very active in our Movement and is the historical department of Africa Mission - Cooperation and Development.
In this period the drought in Karamoja is felt, in November and December it did not rain at all and in January and February either. In practice it means that there are a very large number of people who come to us to get help to improve their water scarcity situation, coming from all over the region. The problem of lack of rain causes the lowering of the water level inside the wells and sometimes it happens that the water falls under the pump and the well does not give more water. That's why at C & D, when we install a well or rehabilitate it, we try to make sure that the pump is deep enough to avoid this problem in the dry season. I experienced this first hand when I was with the team led by Irene to rehabilitate a well in Loputuk, in which case we added three pipes in the well because the water level was just 2 meters above the pump.
In these situations where the demand for water is very high, unfortunately we find ourselves in situations where we can not help everyone because of the limited financial resources. For this reason I think it is important to all those who are committed to supporting our cause here in Karamoja, where there are places where it takes another 3 hours to go and take 20 liters of water and go home.
I believe very much in the fact that not everyone is made to do everything, and not everyone can help others in the same way. But we must get busy and here in Karamoja, from where I write, there is really a need for support. And I do not speak of secondary goods, futile or in any case not indispensable, but of water. There is this way of saying, "Water is Life", and REALLY water is life. We too often assume that this resource is always there and we believe we have an infinite amount available to it. But here things are very different, unfortunately.
The 22nd of March we celebrate the World Water Day, a world event that even here is remembered. The district of Moroto organizes the event on that day and also we at C & D support its realization. There is still much to do, here the level of hygiene is still very low, and this conveys many diseases.
We are here for this, to support people and improve their standard of living».
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