Safe water is a right for every child: cooperation between UNICEF and the Egyptian government to provide drinking water in remote areas
The water infrastructure in Egypt has witnessed a large expansion in recent decades. Where 91 percent of the Egyptians got the water that reaches their homes.
But despite the progress made regarding the stability of water access in urban areas in Egypt, 7.3 million people are still deprived of clean drinking water, especially in rural and random areas.
In Egypt, many villages are still without water at home due to the cost of installing a home water link from the main connections in the streets, which should be borne by families very poverty, and they hardly bear the expenses of feeding and teaching their children.
A cup of safe and clean water is a common goal for the Egyptian government represented in the drinking water and sewage company, and UNICEF – especially in the governorates of southern Upper Egypt in Aswan, Qena, Sohag and Luxor, which some of its residents suffer in villages, remote hamlets and random areas in cities, due to the difficulty of safe and clean drinking water.
On that, some citizens say:
“We have groundwater that is only suitable for animals and birds, while our drinking water is far from us, we bring them by filling some containers for a financial fee from the closest place where the water is available.
When the drinking water improvement project here started here in the areas of Khor Awada, Al -Ambrakab and Zalab on the outskirts of Aswan, this project helped increase the flow of water and reach the largest number of population, with efficiency and high quality.
The water link in Muhammad’s house is one of 575 water and 400 water links that were created in Sohag Governorate this year with the support of UNICEF and the partners.
“We, as school students, have learned through the drinking water improvement project that we can use water to rationalize it and not to waste it.”
“Earlier, we were preparing the water to our homes from the closest place, the mosque, now the situation has changed and the water has arrived well.”
We are a group of students.
Muhammad holds the first cup of water to reach their home.
In the Khouraa area on the outskirts of the city of Aswan, a water station was launched, which contributed to the arrival of water regularly, healthy and safe, as some citizens say there:
“I, as a citizen, thank President Sisi for the construction of a water station that serves areas that were not reached by water.”
“Since the establishment of the station, the water is not cut off from our homes.”
“In the past, the water came every two days and it had deposits.
“There is no doubt that the situation is now better after creating the station in terms of arrival and regular flow of water.”
Muhammad, 12, has to walk three kilometers more than once a day to get drinking water.
Cooperation between UNICEF in Egypt and the Drinking Water Company is embodied in investing in the first solar power plant for use to treat drinking water, says Professor Rasha Marzouq of the Water and Environmental Pacific program in UNICEF, Egypt:
“We are in Aswan Governorate on a visit For the first solar power station used to treat drinking waterAnd it is among three stations, located in the Jabal Tuqouq area, with the aim of delivering water to nearly 365 thousand citizens in the center and city of Aswan. This is the fruit of cooperation between UNICEF Egypt and the drinking water company to exploit new and renewable energy in Aswan Governorate“.
Many children from Muhammad’s friends in the neighboring villages are still taking an arduous daily journey to obtain drinking water, especially since the puppet water in the villages is salty and polluted water.
In the governorates of Assiut, Sohag, Minya, Fayoum, Qena, Aswan and Luxor, UNICEF participated in the initiative “Water for life“In cooperation with Rotary clubs and the Holding Company for Drinking Water and Sanitation.
UNICEF provided technical support for about seven hundred water companies to improve their skills in solving problems, follow -up, evaluation, satisfying customers, managing and sustaining the mechanism of rotating funds. The water has been connected to more than thirty thousand families in the same targeted areas.
A mechanism called “”Rolling boxesTo support the implementation of the water link program, says Mr. Jeremy Hopkins, UNICEF, Egypt’s representative:
“Safe water is a right for every child everywhere in the world, and here in Egypt to reach safe water is essential and important for every child. It is important to ensure proper nutrition and good health, and also its access to health units and schools. As you know, the beautiful Nile River passes through Egypt and we need to provide clean and good water for every child.
We were able to connect water networks to about 30,000 families, and this is amazing, or about 150,000 people, and nearly 70 to 80 thousand children. There are still many families that need to reach clean and drinking water. It is not only related to water connections, but how to use water properly and how to keep it clean. Every child has the right to safe and clean water, so we need concerted efforts to ensure this. Join us in our mission to support every family and every child to get clean and safe water. “
The UN official continued, saying:
“Every day, children walk long distances not to go to school and play with their owners, but in order to bring and transfer a quantity of water that is safe and clean, but it tells their thirst and their families in the hot air. But we can all help these by donating UNICEF that works to deliver safe water for children and their families and provide the time of the children who spend it to search for water to invest in activities that suit their ages. We will ensure a better life for every child. “
The partnership between UNICEF in Egypt and the relevant government agencies is based on the need to enhance awareness of the importance of rationalizing water consumption and using sewage networks in a safe way, through awareness programs targeting all segments of society, especially in rural areas.
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