World Vision enhancing Deir Al-Ahmar water infrastructure
Water is one of the main pillars of life; it makes up to 75 per cent of the human body weight – Without enough water, our physical and cognitive functions decline. In Lebanon, many villages that are located far away from the big cities are deprived of many essential services such as adequate water and hygiene infrastructure.
Every summer, between June and September, residents of Deir Al-Ahmar – a village located 100 kilometres away from Beirut, find themselves without enough potable water due to old infrastructures and the unavailability of enough water networks that connect the households in the village to the water sources. “Our village is located in northern Bekaa, the area is known for its dry and hot summer. Every year we face issues of lack of potable water at the households during this season.” Says Raymond Saade, a representative from the municipality.
World Vision Lebanon, with support from World Vision Honk Kong, worked on enhancing the provision of potable water to host and refugee communities in Deir Al-Ahmar, through the rehabilitation of the existing water network and installation of additional lines. “The infrastructure in the village is very old. The rehabilitation work was of great importance for the village, especially since the economic crisis crippled us. We are hoping that water will be abundant this year,” says Raymond.
People who are registered with the water establishment and pay the fees are now better connected to the water network thanks to this project. “I pay twice for the provision of water; I pay the fees for the water establishment and I pay for water trucking between June and October. I pay around two million Lebanese pounds (around US$ 20) for each water truck. This is an additional cost for me that I shouldn’t be paying.” Says sixty-two-year-old Ghazi. “I am a farmer and mainly rely on the income from my land. Two of my four children still live with me so we consume a lot of water during summer. Water is life and without it, no one can survive. I hope this year, thanks to your work we won’t need to do any water trucking.”
In addition, World Vision established a prefabricated building that was handed over to the Bekaa Water Establishment in Deir Al-Ahmar. “We used to operate in an old building. It was far from suitable to operate from; it was deteriorating and water leaked inside during winter. It wasn’t also appropriate to welcome people who have complaints,” says Toufic Khoury, responsible for the Bekaa Water Establishment in Deir Al-Ahmar section.
“Due to the financial situation, it was impossible to change our offices. The prefabricated building came at a perfect time. It is also located in a better location where it could be easily found by the residents. In addition to the building, the workers of the BWE were provided and equipped with the necessary supplies and equipment to carry out their daily tasks,” says Toufic.
World Vision Lebanon believes that every individual is entitled to receive their basic right, such as potable water. This project rehabilitated 2,400 meters of pipelines in Deir Al-Ahmar and will secure potable water for 191 households in the village.