Al-Aqahla water project brings hope to the displaced and the people !!
547 houses inhabited by 2273 people in Al-Akahla and the neighboring villages, which are administratively managed by the directorate of A-Mqatirah -Lahj governorate . The people of this directorate are suffering from drinking water shortage. The project, which covered 30% of the population's needs, has stopped working since 2011. This problem become more severe and enforced people to be displaced from their areas to Al-Akahla which resulted in high demand for water.
Urgent need
A visitor to the Al Aqahlh area is currently witnessing an unusually overcrowded population , a house of 90 square meters being inhabited by 8 displaced families ; moreover, the caves are full of displaced people.
The most tragic suffering of IDPs and indigenous people is water issue. Dozens of people flock around 24 hours to water places. The morning and afternoon periods were set for women, children, and evening and night periods were set for youth and men.
This painful picture has made the Public Works Project contributing in alleviating this suffering by rehabilitating the old water system and replacing some of the lines.
"The rehabilitation of the Al-Aqahla water project by the Public Works Project has brought hope to the families and displaced people, especially women and children. The previous situation has led people to the stage of departing to the valleys and the mountains in search of water" Nadhem Saeed Mohammed - one of the beneficiaries and coordinator of Al-Quba district, Al-Akahla, says .
"Getting a 20-liter bottle of water has become a dream for many until it's time for men and children to sleep near the places where water is brought," he said.
"Today the situation has become better with the best sustainable source of water available for children and girls who are racing on the classroom and not the water queues.
No comparison
In the opinion of Lamia Mohammed - housewife- village of Daka - Akahla - no comparison today, the situation of parents and displaced people after the intervention of the Public Works Project and the last days when crowd and dozens of people are in queues to bring water and the significant concern of the family members in bringing water . There are some women and old people who were injured due to the fighting and quarrel that has become daily in places where water is brought, but today the picture has changed and the displaced people in the neighboring villages feel safe and stable.
Social solidarity
"The Public Works Project is involved in the rehabilitation of the Al-Akahla water project other than the negative perception of the indigenous population towards the displaced", according to Mansour Redman, one of the displaced people.
The people of the area were referring the problem of water shortage to the displaced people because the reason behind the depletion of water resources is a result of increased demand and consumption. There are new people in the area who share the water with the people. Therefore, the Public Works Project has had a good impact on the people, especially the displaced people, because it provides a sustainable source of water and removes the state of tension and people's suffering and strengthens solidarity and good relationship between people.