Amina's city has a water pump
On International Water Day, we want to share the difference our donors have made for women and girls in Ethiopia. Together with our donors, we have installed solar-powered water pumps in the town of Gol'Anod, which both increase water availability and reduce the risk of violence against women and girls.
Amina crosses the street in the town of Gol'Anod, she turns behind a small tin building and fills her can with water from a couple of taps. After a few minutes she is back in her little shop; she pours water into a small kettle and puts it on the fire.
Amina tells us how easy it is for her to fetch water now, compared to before:
"I used to get water in another place, it took me four hours to go back and forth, now it's not far at all!"
Amina, refugee in Ethiopia
Gol'Anod is an area in eastern Africa hit hard by climate change, with barely any rainfall in six years. However, the water supply has improved since the government installed a well that is now powered by solar panels built by Oxfam. Oxfam also piped the water into the city.
Bringing water supplies closer to drought-affected households is also important to reduce the risk of gender-based violence.
Violence against girls and women
When Amina's eldest daughter was growing up, it fell on her daughter's shoulders to fetch water, she needed to leave the house before dawn.
"When you have to send your daughter to fetch water early in the morning, you are worried," says Amina, describing that the worry has gone now that there is water so close to home. Amina continues:
"I am no longer afraid of men hurting my daughter."
Amina, refugee in Ethiopia
Thanks to our donors, families like Amina's have more local and safer access to water. Together we are fighting for an equal future. Thank you very much.
