Bringing clean water to the Sahel Belt
In Chad only one in two children has access to safe drinking water
With the support of the Swedish International Development Agency, UNICEF built two water points in Mao in the Sahel Belt of Chad where access to drinking water was difficult for children like Fatime Ali.
“Every morning I go with my donkey to fill water cans. There are people who come from far away to fetch water here because it is cleaner.” Fatime lives in Mao, a remote town in the Kanem Region of Chad, in the middle of the Sahel Belt.
“Until recently, we would draw water from the well. We walked for 2 hours every day to get water. The well water made us sick, we suffered from stomach ache. Now we have two water points nearby, life is very different,” Fatime said.
“In Mao there is sand everywhere and a lot of dust. During the hot season temperature can be as high as 50°C. Without water, life would be impossible here,” she adds.
The water is good to drink and our clothes are cleaner when they are washed. When I have finished the dishes, I take breakfast and then I can finally go to school with my friends. And it is my favorite moment of the day,” she concludes.
With the support of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), UNICEF Chad has facilitated access to a healthy environment for 38,000 people, including 23,000 children, with the rehabilitation and construction of 76 water points, the construction of 26 latrines, and the creation of 46 water management point committees.
