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The projects are set to serve thousands of people and boost farming
A new potable water project in Eritrea is set to serve thousands of residents through solar-powered water distribution centres. This is one of two recently launched initiatives in one of the most water stressed countries in Africa.
The project in the Habero sub-zone of the Anseba Region, built at a cost of 8 million Nakfa ($533,333), was inaugurated on 10 October.
The project includes:
A dam with a capacity of 210,000 cubic meters of water,
A 13km water pipeline,
A water container capable of holding 75 cubic meters, and
Four solar-powered water distribution centres.The inauguration ceremony was attended by Tesfay Gebreselasie, Minister of Land, Water, and Environment and Mebrahtu Eyasu, Director-General of Water Resources.
Fitiwi Gebremeskel, administrator of the sub-zone, noted that the project will provide potable water to more than 17,000 residents in the administrative areas of HaberoTselim and HaberoTsaeda.
Zer’e Woldetensae, head of water resources in the Anseba Region, urged residents to use the water project responsibly and to carry out regular maintenance to ensure its sustainability.
Ambassador Abdella Musa, Governor of the Anseba Region, praised the Ministry of Agriculture for its involvement throughout the project’s development.
He also encouraged residents to make proper use of the new facilities.
Another project to address water shortages in Eritrea
Earlier in October, a new dam in the Emahmimet administrative area, Qarora sub-zone, constructed at a cost of 4.5 million Nakfa ($300,000), was inaugurated. The construction involved collaboration between local residents and members of the Defense Forces.
Idris Ali, the sub-zone administrator, stated that the dam would play a vital role in addressing the water supply challenges for both people and livestock in the area.
Sabela Asmelash, the project coordinator, explained that the dam has a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters of water. She urged the public to use the resource wisely to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Lt Mebrahtu Tedros, a member of the Defense Forces involved in the project, expressed satisfaction at having contributed to alleviating the water shortage in the region.
Governor of the Northern Red Sea Region, Asmeret Abraha, noted that the dam’s construction was part of ongoing efforts to address the water supply challenges in the region.
She encouraged the local community to take full responsibility for its maintenance and preservation.
Clean water supply challenges in Eritrea
Last year the organisation World Vision listed Eritrea in its list of top 10 countries with the worst water access levels.
It noted that 48% of Eritreans lacked basic water services.
“In East Africa, Eritrea has made significant gains in providing access to clean water and sanitation for communities. Lack of adequate household sanitation means open water sources are often contaminated by human and animal waste.”
The organisation said deforestation and poor farming practices also exacerbated the problem of water pollution.
However, Eritrea is seeing improvements in water “as government, NGOs and private companies unite their efforts with communities.”
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, there is only one perennial river in Eritrea, the Setit River, which also forms the border with Ethiopia.
“All other rivers are seasonal and contain water only after rainfall and are dry for the rest of the year. There are no natural fresh surface water bodies in the country.”
Water projects to boost agriculture in Eritrea
The African Development Bank (AfDB) said that despite Eritrea having a long coastline on the Red Sea, it has limited fresh water.
“Its erratic rainfall has left most of the country arid. This is a challenge for Eritreans who depend on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods.”
But the AfDB noted last year that “things are changing.”
“In the space of three years, Eritrea harnessed local engineering talent and mobilised thousands of Eritreans, including students from the country’s technical and vocational schools, to build the Msilam Dam. |
