Significant improvement in access to water and sanitation is one of the biggest achievements of the post-Taliban era reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
People in Need, with the funding of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, made this a reality for 140 households of the Jogi community living in Mazar-e-Sharif.
Water 30 minutes away and often only at night Previous People in Need (PIN) and German Consulate interventions, aimed at improving food security and nutrition and hygiene practices, have led to an improvement of the situation in the Mazar-e-Sharif Jogi community; however, access to water continued to be a challenge.
Mullah Oral, the community leader recalls: “It’s been many years since we settled here, but we were never supported with this type of project, which would bring drinking water to our homes.
We used to fetch water from other people’s sources, asking for permission and paying them for it.
Now, in the centre of the community, there is brand new water system, able to supply at least 25,000 liters of water per day to the 140 households who live here, from the 70 meters deep well powered by 14 solar panels.
The 800 meters pipe system supplies water to 16 taps, strategically located across the community to ensure fair distribution among all the families who live there.
The community established a water management committee, whose members, selected from different households, are in charge of the maintenance of the solar panels and regular control of the technical aspects of the water system.
Women are the ones benefitting the most Once the construction of the water system was finished, PIN conducted a hygiene promotion session with 100 participants – one member from each household.
Now I don’t need to do this anymore, as I have the tap right here.” Mullah Oral adds: “Before, our people were often fed up with this kind of life.