By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
As World Water Day was observed on Friday 22nd March, people living in Communities within the Western Urban Area have, in an interview with Politico, called on the Government to address what they say is the inconsistent supply of water.
Politico visited Brookfields, Model, Allen Town, Calaba Town, Kissy Shell communities among others, where residents expressed dismay over the water shortages.
A Brookfields resident, Alieu Turay told Politico that the taps run only two days in the week and for just about three hours a day, and called on the government to address the water problem.
Dezrica Georgeof Brookfileds sharing her thoughts on the water challenges said: “Getting water here is difficult. There is a dam in this community, but there is no water coming from it”. She said water is pumped to the community only three days a week.
For Mabinty Bah at Model, their community gets water supply once in a week and for just a few hours. She is appealing for the provision of huge public water tanks as is the case in some areas.
An individual living also in Model but who preferred anonymity said: “Water supply here is very challenging. At times we have water supply once in week” the resident added, calling on Guma Valley to help them with frequent water supply.
Yeanoh Conteh-an elderly woman at Allen Town east of Freetown who said she is the caretaker of a solar generated borehole at a Church facility disclosed that they have been without water supply for a very long period, and that their only source of getting water is through the borehole. “From 2018, we have not been getting Guma Valley Water Company supply,” she stated.
Fatmata Koroma, Kadia Sesay, Ibrahim Sesay, all of them residents of another part of AllenTown, confirmed to Politico there is only one source of water supply for them, which is electricity-powered. “The entire residents in this part of AllenTown come down here to fetch water,” Fatmata Koroma said.
Delivering a speech on World Water Day, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Sao Max-Kyne said the unequal distribution and inadequate water infrastructure add to the challenges of the vulnerable population, noting that water is more than a basic necessity-a fundamental human right.
Dr. Max-Kyne said the United Nations in 1992 adopted a resolution to celebrate World Water Day on the 22nd March every year, to increase the level of awareness on its importance .
World Water Day, she said, stimulates action in tackling water and sanitation challenges.
Reacting to the theme of this year’s water day commemoration the minister said: “In recognizing water as a catalyst for peace, we must prioritize equitable access, sustainable management practices and cross-border cooperation. Water scarcity exacerbates tensions, whether through competition’’. Dr. Max-Kyne pointed out that promoting dialogue and collaboration around water accessibility would diffuse tensions, build trust and pave a path to peace and security.
In order to address the water crisis, the Director General of the Guma Valley Water Company, Maada Kpenge had during the week explained to Journalists of plans to build 10 Dams within the western rural and urban areas, four of which will be ready in five years.
The Guma boss also admitted that people in areas like Allen Town and Calaba Town are currently struggling to get water, due to what he said is a fault at the water plant in AllenTown.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (25/03/24)
