6- Improving access to Water sources, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) to communities
Somalia is described as a country lying in Arid and Semi-arid land in the Horn of Africa. The two main rivers, Shabelle and Juba run across southern parts of the country, while the rest is entirely dry where rain fed farming is practiced. Limited irrigation farming is practiced in most parts of Shabelle & Juba regions.
In the past, enough has not been done on the exploration of underground water sources despite few boreholes drilled by the previous regime in 1980s. Following the fall of the Military Regime in early 1991 and subsequent collapse of public water institutions, the latter had not even received much attention and/or rehabilitation. Majority of agro-pastoral rain fed farmers and pastoralists across the country depend upon rainfall water for their livelihoods. However, there are few hand dug shallow wells, water catchments, and berkeds in some places. These are either communally or individually owned. As such, water sources scarcity and poor quality of water itself is an issue and a point of concern in Somalia that needs much attention and action.
In order to improve access to water sources and quality for both domestic and livestock use, interventions on water (quantity & quality), sanitation and hygiene was an integral component of CED’s humanitarian actions & strategies in Somalia. The organization has contributed substantially to digging and rehabilitating water wells (boreholes & shallow wells), digging and rehabilitating water catchments, digging and constructing Berkeds (underground water reservoirs), constructing household and public latrines, distributing soap, collecting solid wastes/garbage collection, promoting good sanitation & hygiene practices and conducting Trainings/Workshops for water management committees, hygiene and sanitation promoters and education personnel at schools supported.