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DR Congo

Water for 105,000 people in North Kivu

04-11-2011 News Release 11/227

Goma (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has just finished renovating a water system in the towns of Kirumba and Kayna, in North Kivu. The two towns lie in the Lubero area, and are the main centres to which people flee when fighting flares up in the region. After ten months' work, the project was opened on 3 November at a ceremony attended by local dignitaries. The improvements will increase the available water supply from 5 litres per day/per person to 12.

"In this mountainous region, having water on tap in the town will save people time, because they won't have to go down to the valleys to collect it," explains the head of Kayna, Egide Karasisi. "The new system will make the job of the mothers and the young girls easier, and will eliminate the risks associated with moving around the area."

Over 2,500 people helped rebuild the 17 km network, most of them from Kirumba and Kayna. The old system had been built by the water board in 1982.

"Increasing the amount of water available per person will improve hygiene and public health," explained ICRC water and habitat engineer Jonathan Pease.

In rural areas, the ICRC involves communities, public bodies and water boards in the design, construction and maintenance of its projects. The organization is also supporting the general referral hospital in Kayna by supplying medicines and equipment, and training the personnel. In addition, the ICRC is caring for war-wounded civilians and military personnel at the hospital.

For further information, please contact:
Krista Armstrong, ICRC Goma, tel: + 243 81 700 77 86