UN Completes Ethiopian Refugee Water Project

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has completed the Jarrar Valley Water Supply Scheme in eastern Ethiopia.

The $5m water project will pump 1.3 million litres of fresh water a day for use by Somali refugees and members of the local community.

In 2004, UNHCR and regional authorities drilled wells in the Jarrar Valley and transported water using diesel-powered pumps.

Fifteen generators have now been installed to pump water from seven wells to the Kebribeyah Refugee Camp.

Kebribeyah now has 28 water outlets while the daily water output has increased from 12l to 20l for each of the 16,000 refugees.