3-day water cut ‘threatening lives’ of E. Darfur residents

Out of order water stations for the last three consecutive days in East Darfur’s Assalaya locality are “threatening the lives” of local residents, especially of women, children, elderly and the sick, a source says. Mohammed Muslim, who lives in one of the affected areas, informed Radio Dabanga the machine of a water station had already stopped working seven days ago. However, he continued, it was repaired before breaking again shortly after. Gargar, Attared and Angabo villages in Kilaikil Abuslama unit of Assalaya locality are the ones experiencing lack of water. Its residents appealed to citizens of the nearby Kamal area to provide them access to available water resources arguing women and children’s lives were at risk; however, the request was denied, Muslim said. Besides water shortage, the area is also facing a “total absence” of development and of health and security services increasing the citizens’ “daily suffering”, Muslim said. He warned that unless the government or organizations provide water within the next 24 hours residents of Kilaikil will return to Kamal and use “any means” to get hold of water, even if they have to resort to “clashing” with each other.Photo: Albert Gonzalez Farran/ UNAMID