March 19, 2010
PBS Newshour reports on water crisis and WaterAid's work
On last night's NewsHour, correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reported on WaterAid and local partner Water Action's work to help local communities in Alaba, Ethiopia to gain access to safe water supplies.
A traditional unsafe water source in Alaba.
WaterAid / Caroline Irby
Ethiopia is among the world’s least well served countries in terms of access to water and sanitation. Water-related diseases are rife, child mortality is high and health services are limited.
Across the country, many women and girls walk hours each day to fetch water for their families from remote sources, many of which are contaminated with deadly water-related diseases.
Fred de Sam Lazaro's report included footage of women collecting water from dirty puddles following a rainstorm, a task that meant they were saved from walking hours to find water that day, but still had to give unsafe water to their families.
We have no choice, this is the only option we have. We're really desperate. We don't have strength and we don't have donkeys. Yes, my children are always getting ill, stomach aches, stomach aches, stomach aches.
Mr. Lazaro interviewed the women at the puddle, asking why they were collecting water there. One of replied: "We have no choice, this is the only option we have. We're really desperate. We don't have strength and we don't havedonkeys. Yes, my children are always getting ill, stomach aches, stomach aches, stomach aches."
A WaterAid water point in Alaba, Ethiopia.
WaterAid / Caroline Irby
The report also features a WaterAid project, managed in conjunction with local water partner organization Water Action, which is helping the community to plan, construct and manage safe water supplies.
As the water table in this area is so low, the water is accessed via the drilling of boreholes. Due to the natural presence of fluoride in groundwater, which can prove dangerous if consumed in high concentrations, the water is treated prior to being used.
The Newshour broadcast highlights how WaterAid's principle of community participation is essential to guaranteeing the long term sustainability of water supplies.
Visit PBS.org to watch the report, listen to it on MP3 or view the transcirpt.
