People in the Wuli East settlement of Boro Kanda Kasse, in the Upper River Region, have lost access to safe and clean drinking for the past six months. The misfortune occurred after the collapse of the sole borehole drilled 27 years ago to supply clean water in the area. The situation has left the villagers to trek kilometres into other communities to get a fit-for-drinking water.
“Lack of water for drinking is our worst nightmare in this village. It has been on for over half a year now and there is no hope because since we sought intervention, we get no response at all,” Mawdo Gar, Chairman Village Development Committee said.
He said though the lack of clean water has persisted for long, the government has continued to pay a deaf ear to the cries of his community. Mawdo Gar indicates that the village council wrote a letter to the Water resources department as the competent authorities of the Government asking for “Support to Rehabilitate our Water facility” on 20th August, 2020. As of now, there is no answer.
Janjumeh Fofana, spokesperson of the Yiriwa Kafoo (a women development organization) of Boro Kanda Kasse, says “it is unfortunate that the government has not intervened despite repeated reminders to them. When our member of parliament Mr Suwaibou Touray had a meeting with them (officials of Water resources), he informed them of our plight but I think they just jot down our concerns in note books and forget about them.”
The Councilor for Baja Kunda Ward, Omar Garry has renewed his appeals for the government to address their water crisis. He said trekking kilometres to fetch water is a delicate task.
The district Seyfo (chief) who’s also a native of Boro Kanda Kasse, said without immediate interventions, people and the animals in the area will continue to suffer.
Boro Kanda Kasse is the third largest community in Wuli East.