World Water Day: People tell how safe water has changed their lives

March 22, 2019 Niger , Mali -

Thanks to your support for Islamic Relief water schemes, many poor people around the world are celebrating this World Water Day.

Your donations meant that last year alone Islamic Relief gave nearly 183,000 people access to vital water, sanitation and hygiene – and we are working in vulnerable communities worldwide to reach many more.

Among those benefiting are communities in the semi-arid Sahel region in Africa, which has been hit hard by the effects of climate change. The need for safe drinking water is an urgent priority for many families.

Islamic Relief has been working with communities in the region, using sustainable solar-powered technology to solve water access problems in Niger and Mali. In those communities today, clean water is stopping the spread of disease, supporting livelihoods and giving children time to go to school.

Here, local people share how their lives have been transformed.

: “When [the pump] broke, the village took at least two weeks to fix it,” says Moussa Diarra, 45, from Banankoro, Mali. Volunteers including myself have been trained and equipped with repair and maintenance kits. I trained for free thanks to Islamic Relief and earn a living using the skills I learned.”

: “The women of Koumetan Tomo did not expect that this day would really happen,” said Natogoma Coulibaly, a 60-year-old mother of six from Koumetan Tomo, Mali. Drinking water is 50 meters from the house and I can store it in less than ten minutes. The joy of my life is to have water at all times.”

: “Almost all the children in the village suffered from permanent eye diseases, infections and diarrhoea,” says Asanato Traore from Banankoro village in Mali. There was only one water pump and this was very far from our house. As soon as we started using water from [safe] drinking sources and washing our hands with soap, all these diseases ended.”

: “Fetching water was really hard,” says Sally Somana, 38, a mother of three from Harigana village in Niger. I have marks on my shoulder because of the stick I use with my tagalas (two ten liter buckets) to hold as much water as possible. The water point is now close to my house. I feel relaxed since the water point opened

: “The well water was dirty and sometimes contained insects,” says Ramatu Yayi, a 28-year-old mother of five from Harigana village in Niger. We just removed it and used water. This is why we get stomachaches or children suffer from diarrhoea. Islamic Relief provided us with drinking water from a well, a reservoir, and solar panels. The water is now very clean and delicious.

: “To do the laundry, I go to either the river or the well, which is 350 meters from my house,” said Alimata Doumbia from Serramana, Mali (right in the photo). I have water nearby [now] and my children’s clothes are always clean. Children bathe regularly before going to school. I know how to prevent various diseases related to water and hygiene.”