Aisha is 23, full of life and energy. But before she could fully experience the world, she became a mother of two. Embracing her new role, Aisha did everything she could to be the best mother for her children. Since the year 2020, her world was shaken as a severe drought struck her home in Dubluk Woreda, Borena Zone. The drought, which has devastated the region since 2020, has left communities like Aisha’s facing ongoing hardship, with insufficient rainfall continuing into 2024.
Over 77,900 people, including Aisha’s family, have been severely impacted by the drought in the area. In 2023, after losing their livelihoods, Aisha and her children were forced to move to the Dubluk Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP) site, hoping for a better life. Yet, the harsh reality of life in the camp presented new challenges, particularly the severe water scarcity that continued to threaten their well-being.
Aisha recalls the difficulty of life before the intervention: “There was no clean water source in the IDP site. Five water points had been constructed, but none of them were functioning. My children and I had to walk a long distance, about a five-kilometre round trip, to collect water. This left us with little time for anything else, and my children were often late for school. Even when we did get water, it came from unprotected sources near waste disposal sites, making it contaminated. We were constantly at risk of illness.”
In response to this dire situation, the Ethiopian Joint Response (EJR) project stepped in to provide crucial support. The project provided support on water point development and rehabilitation, directly addressing the urgent water needs of communities like Aisha's. Through this initiative, a total of 6,478 households across the intervention areas were supported with access to clean and reliable water sources.
For Aisha, the transformation was life changing. "Now, things are much better," she shares with relief. “I can easily collect clean water from a nearby water point. The IDP site now has its own water reservoir, and all five previously non-functional water points are now working. Two additional reservoirs were also constructed, increasing our access to water.” This change has reduced the time Aisha spent waiting in line for water under the harsh sun and eliminated her constant fear of waterborne diseases.
Aisha, who is now pregnant with her third child, expresses how the change has made life much easier. "Since the water point is so close to my new home in the IDP site, I can easily collect water, even when my children are not around to help. It has made a huge difference in my daily routine."
The intervention of SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia, with HUNDEE as the implementing partner through the Ethiopian Joint Response project, highlights how access to clean water can directly strengthen the stability and well-being of families. In places like Dubluk, where water scarcity is a harsh reality, reliable access to water is not just a basic necessity, but a lifeline.
*To respect the person's privacy, their real name has not been used.