Desperate for Relief:
the dry wells of Sangere are holes dug out by the community in search of pockets of water. These drinking holes can be seen wherever the earth seems to hold a promise of water.
Sangere — Determination and Grit
In Sangere, the struggle for water is no different, but Sangere is a community of survivors. Here, the scars of conflict are visible not just in the damaged buildings, but in the eyes of the community…
For Rahab, a 45-year-old mother of five, the water journey in Sangere is no less tasking than finding an oasis in the desert. Murky water is often all there is to take home.
An older woman treks home after getting water from a functional borehole far from her home. Dry spells and drought riddle the landscape of the once-green Sangere. What remains of the formerly lush landscapes are resilient trees like the baobab or neem in the background that require little water to remain evergreen.
Photo Credit: ©IWMI/Aisha
Rahab is a participant in the IWMI and WFP photovoice project, supported by Norad. Alongside members of her community the photovoice project has allowed Rahab to capture water stories from her community. As she shares her photography with fellow participants, they are all grimly aware that the struggle against water security will continue tomorrow.
To fight the enemy, water sellers like Abdul* try to augment the supply from a yellow truck like the one he pushes around town. However, buying water is not a sustainable solution in places where inhabitants are living below the poverty line.
Photo Credit: ©IWMI/Rachael
From the byways to the highways, communities are littered with water vendors. Under the scorching heat, water vendors try to earn an honest living while augmenting the scarce water supplies in affected communities.
Photo Credit: ©Dinovate/Joe Bala for IWMI
The water that trickles into Sangere is muddy, barely enough to meet the needs of the growing number of displaced people in the community. Rahab must make impossible choices: Should she buy a jerry can of water or buy groceries to cook a meal for her children? In this place of scarcity, where every drop is precious, survival is a constant negotiation.
Liquid Gold:
a young man leans on his jerry can — such vessels are an absolute must-have for those who wish to store or sell water in vulnerable conflict communities with weak water systems.
Photo Credit: ©Dinovate/Joe Bala for IWMI
Photo Credit: ©Dinovate/Joe Bala for IWMI
In all three communities, the burden of water scarcity falls heavily on women and children. Amina*, who is heavily pregnant and lives in Malkohi, spends hours each day walking to distant water sources, knowing that each step she takes puts her and her unborn child at risk. “I worry every day,” she confesses. But without water, how can I care for my little one?”
A heavily pregnant Amina spends hours each day walking to distant water sources, knowing that each step she takes puts her and her unborn child at risk.
