90,000 in dire need of drinking water in West Darfur

The 90,000 residents of Murnei in West Darfur are facing an acute shortage of drinking water because the water pumps need to be repaired. The hospital of Murnei is short of medicines too. The head sheikh of the Murnei camp for the displaced told Radio Dabanga that the residents of the camp and Murnei town are suffering from water outages for more than three years. The six pumps which supply the water stations are broken. “37 water stations of a total of 67 stations are not working. The water comes once or twice a week in small quantities which is far not enough to satisfy the needs of citizens. The camp residents usually fetch their water from Wadi Azum, at 4km distance from the camp.” The sheikh explained that WEST, the national organisation working in the field of water, has promised several times to solve the problem, but “nothing was done so far”. “WEST also did leave the opportunity for other organisations to intervene and repair the pumps.” The sheikh said that situation in general is deteriorating. “The camp hospital is short of all kinds of medicines, while the camp residents cannot afford to buy prescribed medicines from the pharmacies. The people are suffering from the insecurity in the region because of the increase of militiamen on horses and camels, who loot, kill, beat and rape.” He appealed to “those responsible to pay attention to their problems and help the camp residents find urgent solutions”. File photo Related:Thirst as drinking water hits almost $9 a barrel in East Darfur (24 December 2013)Acute drinking water crisis in North Darfur camps (23 December 2013)Water cut lasts due to unrepaired pumps in South Darfur camp (20 December 2013) Acute drinking water crisis continues in South Darfur camp (17 December 2013) 7,000 East Darfuris in need of drinking water, basic services (8 November 2013)