The repair of five boreholes damaged when violence erupted in Juba last year will increase access to clean water for the community of Durupi, located on the outskirts of the South Sudanese capital.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) funded the project to repair the boreholes and contracted out the rehabilitation work to a non-governmental organization, Christian Agenda for Development (CAD).

At a handover event, UNMISS Relief, Reintegration and Protection Officer, Lauro Okello Ohiyu said that the water supply would be used, not only by Durupi residents, but also communities in need in the surrounding area.

“As part of our role to protect civilians, we thought providing the people with clean drinking water would help them promote co-existence and foster durable peace in the village as the area houses a wide spectrum of South Sudanese ethnicities,” said Mr Lauro.

He said the boreholes would also complement the automated solar-powered system that UNMISS handed over to a nearby village a few weeks ago.

Anisha Suleiman, one of the residents, welcomed the move to guarantee the supply of clean water.

“We used to collect and drink rainwater. Now we have boreholes, so we have to give credit to those who deserve it like UNMISS,” said Ms Suleiman.                                                                                                                                       

Executive Director for CAD, Amule Remo said the boreholes would supply an estimated 2,500 residents in the area with clean drinking water, as well as potentially attract internally displaced people living in other parts of the city to return to their former homes.

He said it was important that local residents owned the project, protected and maintained it to ensure its longevity. “These are their water bores. They have to claim ownership, and they have to care and clean the boreholes,” he said.

CAD has already trained a seven-member Water Management Committee, comprising four women and three men, to help with minor repairs and ongoing maintenance.