Siama is one beneficiary in the RAWA project implemented in BNS in Sudan. As food security and water supply were adversely affected by the conflict that ruptured in 2011 between SAF and SPLM-N, there was a high need to improve both access to safe water and address underlying causes of the food insecurity in Bau and Kurmuk localities. The RAWA project was proposed to address needs of those affected population in 13 villages through rehabilitation of water sources and damaged systems and provision of agricultural inputs to improve productivity in addition to provision of grants for livelihood restoration.
Siama is a twenty -year-old mother from Darang community. She used to walk two km every day to and from the nearest water source to fetch drinking water for her family by carrying an Arbus (two Jeri cans held by a long stick one in each side) in her very tired and exhausted shoulder.
Siama said “I with other women from the village used to wait in a queue for a long time nearly up to six hours to get only two jerry cans of water. ADRA through the RAWA project has intervened in Derange village in rehabilitation of four HPs and rehabilitating the Hafier system and construction of tap stands just near our houses. Now I only need to walk 200 meters and wait as short as ten minutes to fill my Jeri cans and get clean drinking water. So, I spare my time for other home duties. By using the Arbus to move the water plates the trip is also less effort. I managed to start a small business as packing charcoal into bags and selling it in the market along with many other women in Darang, using their spare time in useful work”.
Siama expressed her happiness with the services of BHA through ADRA improving the water sources, providing drinking water and supporting the community in Dairang.