Village Located in a Hilly Terrain Area Access Drinking Water Now

Ghoran village is located among a series of high mountains in Shwak district, some 40 KM to the southeast of the center of Paktia province, Gardiz. Nearly, 1,000 families live in this stone locked village. Considering the climate and landscape of the area, the villagers do not rely much on the agricultural lands that produce insufficient crops and cannot satisfy the needs of a landlord.

Irrigation canals, a health clinic and a school building in the community are the urgent and basic needs of the community, however, shortage of water, and lack of safe drinking water have been the major challenges here, as we talked to them. Children and women used to fetch water from a lake located 3 KM away on their heads, back and the lucky ones, on donkeys! Human and animals were drinking the same water.

Revealed Sarajudin, a villager: “Since the water was contaminated, it would usually cause numerous diseases such as diarrhea, kidney stone, goiter (enlargement of thyroid gland or a swelling in the neck) and perhaps many more!”

Taking the importance of their needs into consideration, the Community Development Council (CDC) in consultation with the villagers decided to give top priority for provision of safe drinking water, once the Citizens’ Charter National Priority Program of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD/CCNPP) extended its operations in this village.

The water supply network financed by the Citizens’ Charter in the community has declined the number of disease cases dramatically, says Serajudin. “There is currently a tap in front of each

house and we access enough water day and night without any difficulty. The water supply project also helped us to have enough water even for laundering and bathing purposes”, added Sarajudin.

The water supply network in this village is extended from a spring located 6 KM away across high mountains and directly benefits 3,000 people in this 1,000 square meters village. The total project cost is AFN 2,419,545 disbursed by the MRRD/CCNPP including 10% community contribution.

It is also to mention that, unemployment is another problem in Ghoran village. This has resulted that the youths have to travel for work to neighboring districts, provinces and even out of the country. Therefore, they are mostly away from home for weeks, months and years in order to support their families.

×