Like many other areas across Yemen, people living in the remote area of Affay, which is located in the northern part of Barat Al Anan district in Al Jawf Gov., were struggling much to get adequate quantities of clean and safe water necessary for drinking and daily use. They were in the habit of getting water from open unpr/9otected water sources that were polluted causing health problems to the local community of Affay area. The remote distance to the water source was a heavy burden which people suffered the most, especially women and children as they are traditionally considered the ones responsible of bringing water home. Such an issue caused children to cut from schools and hindered their access to education on regular basis. “People in my village suffers much ensuring water to their families”, a 70 year old man Saleh Qabo’a said. During the implementation of the WASH activities in Affay village an eight-year little girl passing by YARD’s team was complaining sorrowfully to her peer girls, while on their way walking the long distance to bring water. She communicated to her friends that she had hardly managed ensuring some quantities of water for cooking and still need to go one more to fetch water for the bathroom. Such suffering was a common misery among the local community of Affay village, especially among women.
A community leader in Affay area reported that women in his village were leading a miserable daily life trying to secure water to their homes. “it happened that the daily habit of carrying 20 liter jerry can caused a woman to cut her hair as a result of that”, the community leader provided. During the implementation process, it was usual for the project team to see women and children passing through the long ways to bring water to their homes. The picture on the right shows a pregnant woman holding her child on her right hand and carrying a container on the left while walking the long distance in the sunny dusty roads in hope to bring water home.
To response to people’s need for accessing adequate quantities of clean water, YARD in partnership with YHF implemented rehabilitation activities for Affay-Selbah water supply system. Rehabilitation works included the construction of 60 m3 ground concreate tank, implementation of water network extensions and supply and installation of solar pumping system with the construction of a control room. After 3 months and a half of implementation, rehabilitation for the water system was achieved and water was eventually pumped from the water source to the concreate tank, flowing down through the water network and to the distribution points installed near people’s dwellings from which they are to connect water to their homes.
By ensuring the achievement of rehabilitation works for the water source in the targeted area, 458 HHs about 3,160 individuals of both IDPs and hosting community living in Affay area improved access to adequate water quantities. The sufferings of men, women and children were eventually addressed. Public places, such as the school in the area in addition to the mosques were also supported by implementing extensions of water networks and supplied with water where students, teachers, and other people became able to access water for sanitation and other use resulting in more protected and cleaner environment. Mothers became able to get water required for feeding their babies and ensured adequate quantities for the kitchens and washing up purposes. Thus, such improved practices will ultimately lead to addressing health problems and will create more healthy children.
When interviewed by the project staff, Saleh Qabo’a a 70 year old man, standing in the picture with his grandsons and granddaughters, explained how relievable the project was to his children and to the others of Affay community. “My children are now able to go back to school as they need no more to walk all the long way to the water source to bring water”, he said. “Water is a blessing of God that we will strive always to maintain”, the old man added.
The feedback of the people of Affay community on the provided WASH services was positive. They expressed their utmost sense of gratitude for YHF and YARD for all efforts exerted in responding to their water needs. Some went farther posting through social media describing their surprise for the change that happened in their area as they were away from home for several months. Aboud Al Ghareebi, a 24-year student of medicine at Sana’a University, when coming back to his village of Affay showed his surprise at the change that took place in his area. He thought that it was only a miracle that could make that change. He went on to thank all concerned in the rehabilitation process for the village water supply system.
