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UNICEF provides safe water facilities in conflict-affected Uganda

What: Formal handover to Gulu District of new motorised water systems, installed with UNICEF and AMREF support, in the Anaka, Atiak, Pabbo and Palenga IDP camps.

When:  16 November, 2004 / 12.30PM

Where: Atiak IDP Camp, Gulu District

Who:  Participants to include:

• Minister of State for Water
• UNICEF Representative
• AMREF Country Director
• Director, Directorate of Water Development
• Gulu District Council and officials

Why: UNICEF has collaborated with the Government of Uganda and AMREF to provide safe water and sanitation facilities for the vulnerable populations of IDP camps in conflict-affected north and north-eastern Uganda.  The camps are home to an estimated 1.4 million people, 80 per cent of whom are children and women.

The motorised systems are designed to serve households, heath facilities and temporary learning centres in the IDP camps, benefiting an estimated 117,000 people (28,000 in Anaka; 25,000 in Atiak; 54,000 in Pabbo; 10,000 in Palenga).

Total cost for the four systems, including repair equipment and spares (2 years’ worth) is approx. USD190,000.

Each system comprises of a specially drilled production borehole with a minimum yield of 3 cubit metres per hour.  Diesel-powered mono-lift pumps are used to abstract water from the well.  Pumping mains take water from the borehole to the reservoir tanks (tank capacity depends on 8 hours/day pumping and borehole yield).  Due to the flat topography in Gulu, the tanks are mounted on steel towers for the correct elevation allowing water to gravitate through the distribution main to the tap stands.  Pump-houses are constructed to shelter the pump from the elements and to provide storage space for tools and consumables such as fuel, lubricants and spare parts.  The cost of consumables and maintenance services will be charged on the district local government, as has been communicated to the district by the Ministry of Water Lands and Environment.

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For more information, please contact:

Chulho Hyun, UNICEF Media, Kampala 077 222347
Anne-Lydia Sekandi, UNICEF Media, Kampala 077 409016
kampala@unicef.org