Making Water Points Safe
The water points in the village of Bedo and at Bir Gosse, located in remote areas of Borkou in the north of Chad, were both suspected of being contaminated with unexploded ordnance (UXO), left over from 19 years of sporadic fighting and war.
The fear of contamination particularly affected the nomadic populations who rely on the water points both for their own survival, and that of their camels, in the harsh desert environment of northern Chad. Before MAG's involvement, these communities faced a daily risk. A number of the victims of UXO accidents were children, curious about the items they found lying in and around the water points, but some were also as a result of nomads herding their camels and straying into dangerous areas.
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| The water points at Bedo and Bir Gosse are now safe for local people and nomads | |
Each water point took about 1 -2 days to clear, depending on the type of soil and the depth and level of the contamination. Although no items were found at Bedo, the site still had to be fully checked before it could be declared safe. A total of 47 items of UXO were found and destroyed at Bir Gosse. By marking both areas as safe, this ensures that the nomads regain confidence in using the water points.
Didier Leonard, MAG's Technical Operations Manager, says: "Since MAG has been working in Borkou province, 1,765,000 metres squared of land has been cleared. A total of 12 water points have been rehabilitated and 19 contaminated areas have now been marked. This has had a massive impact, particularly on the nomadic population of the region, who now have the confidence to visit these water points in safety and have become more involved in the process by giving us information about new suspected areas."
The PM/WRA U.S. Department of State, through MAG America, supports MAG's work in Chad.
