Unity State boreholes drilled by Mercy Corps.

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

May 25, 2012 (BENTIU) – The international non-governmental organisation, Mercy Corps. (MC) is carrying out borehole construction in Unity State, where, according to the South Sudanese government, 60 percent of the population survive on often untreated river water; leading to the spread of various waterborne diseases.

It is feared that these diseases, including cholera, will become more prevalent with the onset of the imminent rainy season.

Assistance Mission for Africa (AMA) has dug 150 boreholes on behalf of MC in Unity State counties of Payinjiar, Leer, Guit, Koch, Rubkotna and Mayom, and the capital, Benitu.

Benitu’s drinking water infrastructure is struggling to meet the demands of an ever-increasing population.

Jackgom Kioko Mzioka, a driller for AMA says their organiation has signed contracts for four MC boreholes projects within Bentiu town.

Mzioka said that the provision of clean drinking water helps to prevent the guinea worm parasite and diarrhea, and reduces the workloads on women, many of whom are tasked with travelling enormous distances on foot, to collect water.

He explained that local residents in Darasalam village of Bentiu have received a MC borehole.

Rebecca Nyakan Kerlual, a resident of Darasalam told Sudan Tribune on Friday that women in the village have been providing the drillers with refreshments to convey their appreciation.

Kerlual said women of the village previously had to walk for up to an hour to collect water and that the new borehole would be of great help to them.

“What Mercy Corps did to our community will not be forgotten because they are helping the vulnerable women,” said Kerlual.

(ST)