Assessment of Problems and Needs for Water Supplies At Ethiopian Drought - Victim Camps
In November 1984, A.I.D. sent two consultants from the Water and Sanitation for Health project to Ethiopia to develop recommendations for emergency water-supply relief at camps for drought victims. The consultants found that the areas around camps in Wello and Tigray clearly qualify for emergency water supply assistance and that there exists, especially in view of the expected increase in the severity of the drought-victim problem, a clear and desperate need to improve Ethiopia's capability to drill and equip wells and to repair existing wells and well pumps. Even with supplemental water supplies provided by relief agencies, the water systems at almost every camp were inadequate; most camps provided access to only 1-2 gallons of water per day per person for drinking, cooking, and sanitary needs. Recommendations concern supplementing joint Government of Ethiopia (GOE)/OXFAM efforts with equipment and services needed to build at least 12 new wells in Wello, increase GOE capability to locate and construct water sources and to set and repair pumps, and provide camp residents with containers for transport and/or daytime storage of drinking water. Key sections provide specific details on Ethiopia's current well-drilling equipment capabilities and needs; appendices include lists of equipment requested by the GOE.