NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL – The Wedwil refugee settlement is a sanctuary for around 8,500 people who have fled the violent conflict in Sudan and crossed the border into Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal.

However, the settlement - about 45 kilometers west of Aweil town – also has significant challenges, including a lack of health facilities, schools, shelter, and water shortages.

These conditions are exacerbated by daily new arrivals of vulnerable families, lack of assistance available from the host government, and a dire shortage in funding for humanitarian aid.

To help alleviate the situation, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s Protection, Transition and Reintegration division initiated a solar powered project to boost water distribution to the refugee community.  

The facility, funded under the Quick Impact Project scheme at a cost of around USD$50,000, is equipped with six outlet taps to cater for about 4,129 households.

The Head of the UNMISS Aweil Field Office, Ataklti Hailu, said the project was an example of the mission’s commitment to peace and development and emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with, and between, returnees, refugees, and the host community.

He highlighted the project's contribution to alleviating water shortages while stressing the importance of sustainability.

“We know that construction of a project is one thing, but maintaining it is also another. As much as we came together to build this water system, we need to also come together to maintain it,” Mr. Hailu said.

The facility is equipped with two water tanks with a capacity of 5,000 liters each. The facility utilizes solar energy to pump water at a rate of 32,000 liters per day from its water source. It is being supplied with 960 watts of power generated by four solar panels.

Accepting responsibility for the new solar water project at the handover ceremony, the Minister for Labor and Human Resource Development in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal, Daniel Deng Deng, pledged ongoing support for refugees and returnees and committed to providing necessary land resources.

The water project was constructed by Future Alive Organization Services, a non-governmental organization, to improve access to clean water and reduce the burden on women and girls who often travel long distances to collect water.

Aisha El-Nair Musa, a refugee who fled Sudan in August, is relieved to have easy access to clean water.

“This will help improve our quality of life by providing clean water for drinking, bathing, cleaning our shelters, and other things. We must now help maintain the water points to ensure they are clean and kept free from any potential water-borne diseases,” she said.

This project will also help reduce competition over scarce resources, foster peaceful coexistence, and promote social cohesion.