Water shortages causing long queues, livestock deaths

Problems with water pumps at Sabak al Khail camp north west of Kabkabiya are escalating with reported pump failures and long queues for displaced people. Sources said the main pump only operates for a short period per day, not enough to provide drinking water to camp residents that rely on it. They said the issues started when the government expelled organisations working to maintain water pumps. They also said camp residents have spent the past six months waiting for hours in long queues hoping to get to the pump. The sources appealed to humanitarians organisations and relief agencies to provide urgently needed assistance as the water crisis is beginning to cause health problems.Kokaya also suffering shortages Residents in Kokaya in East Darfur have also been suffering water shortages for the past three weeks following the failure of the only water station in the area. A citizen of the area told Radio Dabanga that the lack of water has killed livestock including donkeys and cowes. He said the closest water source was four hours away on foot. The citizen appealed to local authorities in East Darfur to immediately fix the water station and set up more in the region.