Strike for better water, roads in West Kordofan enters 46th day

Residents in Lagawa locality, West Kordofan, have now been demonstrating for the improvement of vital services in the area for 46 consecutive days. The protesters stated that they will not break their strike until their demands for development and improved water, electricity, and health services are met. People in East Darfur state also suffer from a lack of water services.

One of the demonstrators said that residents of the city and surrounding villages, including employees and school students, have joined and supported them in the sit-in. "About 4,000 students of basic and secondary schools have gone out in a massive demonstration, to support the Lagawa residents at El Hurriya Square," he told Radio Dabanga.

"The non-potable water is the cause of many diseases residents suffer from."

In a public speech, the students stated that they will stand alongside the protesters until the demands are met. They have expressed their readiness to continue the open sit-in, which started in mid-November.

At that time, Adam Hamadin Mohamed, the coordinator of the sit-in committee, told Radio Dabanga that there is a lack of electricity and that the roads in the region, north-west of Kadugli, are poor. The water in the locality is also unsafe for drinking. “This is the cause of many diseases the residents are suffering from.”

East Darfur

People in Keleikel Abu Salama area in East Darfur have also complained about basic services in the area, in particular the provision of water. A delegation from Keleikel Abu Salama met with the State Minister of Water Resources, Tapeta Peter, and explained to her that vital services are lacking for “more than 70,000 inhabitants”.

A member of the delegation pointed out that the search for water is “a waste of time” and “causes friction between the natives and tribes”. The team stressed to the Minister that Keleikel Abu Salama, as one of the areas affected by conflict, urgently needs to resolve the problem with water.