Bringing God’s Love and Safe Water to Refugees in Uganda
February 4, 2021
Safe water access for Cecilia and other refugees in Rhino Camp brings hope, especially amid a global pandemic.[/caption]
Of the settlements in northern Uganda, Rhino Camp is usually the destination for new refugees, most of whom are South Sudanese. Before 2020, there was no reliable, accessible safe water in Rhino Camp. The spread of COVID-19 in this overcrowded, under-resourced settlement exposed and heightened the dire need for safe water.
Cecilia, a 62-year-old resident of Rhino Camp, described to our team some of the most difficult aspects of her experience. “For a long time, we suffered from a lack of safe water,” she said. “The only available water was a very long distance from us. At my age, that distance was a very big problem, considering I have no one to help me. Congestion at the only water access point meant long hours…and losing time that could have been used to do other household chores.”
“While we were still dealing with the distance to the only water point,” Cecilia continued, “the COVID-19 pandemic started, causing panic…mainly because disease prevention required safe water for constant handwashing.”
Cecilia, a Rhino Camp resident, is thankful she and others have access to safe water for the first time.[/caption]
In 2020, the partnership of supporters like you enabled Water Mission’s Uganda team to:
- Find sustainable water sources in two new locations in Arua District, where Rhino Camp is located.
- Lay over six miles of pipelines to distribute safe water throughout the settlement.
- Build 10 new tap stands, complete with multiple faucets for safe, efficient water collection.
- Upgrade 40 existing tap stands, bringing safe water close to home for thousands of refugees.
- Restore an artesian well that yields approximately 13,000 gallons (49,210 liters) of water per hour—meeting the needs of more than 10,000 refugees in one section of Rhino alone.
- Improve several water systems’ chlorine treatment processes, mitigating the possibility of contamination or recontamination of water.
“I am glad that Water Mission extended water service to our area…amid [the COVID-19 pandemic]. Now, I can say that my life and that of the entire community has been easier with regard to access to safe water. It only takes me about five minutes to walk to the water access point…fetching water has never been easier.” – Cecilia, resident of Rhino CampEvery day, individuals like Cecilia living in Rhino Camp and in settlements around the world are doing the exhausting, arduous work of rebuilding their lives, homes, and families in an unfamiliar new country. All of this must be done with limited resources and under the weight of serious trauma. Finding the strength, hope, and healing to survive these circumstances demonstrates a resilience beyond what most of us can imagine. Our team is committed to meeting the physical need for safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in the most difficult of environments, and to sharing hope through safe and Living Water. We will continue to innovate, learn, and grow our work to serve even more refugees—and your support makes this possible. Thank you for partnering with us as we walk alongside individuals facing what may be the most challenging days of their lives.
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