WASH: 5 million people in need of water, hygiene services in North East.
Group photograph: Borno state government officials, members of the state assembly, UNICEF, Development partners and national NGOs during the commemoration of World Water Day in Maiduguri.
By Dauda Iliya
About Five million people are in dire need of water, sanitation and hygiene WASH services in the North East.
Sector Coordinator Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WASH in charge of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, Francois Bellet made this known at an event to mark this year’s World Water Day in Maiduguri.
He remarked that many internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities in the region still lack portable water, latrines and other services to improve their well-being.
“Five million people are still in need of WASH in North East Nigeria. There is need to address this concern because, safe drinking water water is key to addressing WASH related acute vulnerabilities such as germs and other diseases ” Bellet said.
According to Mr Francois Bellet, the WASH Sector which consists of 42 humanitarian organisations has in collaboration with other partners supported 1.6 million people in Borno state with safe drinking water in 2023.
General Manager, Borno state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency RUWASSA, Dr Mohammed Aliyu said the state government has constructed over 200 hybrid boreholes, 462 hand pumps and rehabilitated 316 solar powered boreholes across the state in the last five years.
Represented by the Director Administration and supply, Hajiya Hauwa Anas, the GM also said two million are currently being reconnected with clean water, in an effort to achieve SDG goal 6.
UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Phuong Nguyen Water noted that ensuring reliable access to water is paramount for peaceful coexistence in the North East that is emerging ftom fifteen years of conflict.
According to her, millions of children and families in the region still lack access to safe water and therefore advocated for more investment in the sector.
“There’s an urgent need to increase investments to accelerate progress for both climate friendly water and sanitation services in Borno State and across northeast Nigeria” Nguyen stressed.
The UNICEF Chief explained that initiatives such as the Small-Town Water Scheme have revolutionized water access in conflict-affected communities, demonstrating the power of innovation in addressing complex challenges.
Correspondent Dauda Iliya reports that the event was attended by members of Borno state House of Assembly, academia, local and international non-governmental organisations and other partners.
