Gore City, after 4 years of suffering, over 30000 people have now access to potable water

Access to safe drinking water in the city of Gore was a major challenge for the indigenous populations, refugees and humanitarian workers.

Located at30 kilometers from the Central African Republic border with Chad, it is the city that receives more displaced people and refugees, leading to a high demand of basic needs such as water. Gore is the city that also host the NGOs and UN organizations humanitarian assistance to refugees, Internal displaced people, returnees and host communities due to the crisis in Central African Republic. 

The water network that supplies the boreholes of some of the city's inhabitants was not functional and people had difficulty to access safe drinking water, as   reported by the Director technique of Water and Electricity in Gore.    The city of Gore is composed of nearly 50,000 inhabitants divided into 19 districts. The water tower that supplied the 10 districts of the city was not   functioning because of the power plant's failure more than 4 years ago, leaving the population in total disarray. The mayor of Gore city called an emergency meeting to present the situation to local elected officials, leaders and representatives of NGOs present in the city to respond to the recurrent needs of potable water in Gore city.

<<< It is a feeling of joy that drives us all and especially me the WASH sub cluster. We said hallelujah when the coordinator of the World Vision Gore Response told us the news of the rehabilitation at the cluster meeting. Today it became a reality. My neighborhood that was without water for one or two weeks, today we had water all day long. We were all affected by this situation to the humanitarian community, refugees, returnees and the host population. All our thanks to World Vision for this gesture. We will monitor management for sustainability. >> said joyfully Mr DjongoYani

In August 2018, OCHA issued a call for assistance to address this situation. World Vision was informed and carried out a field mission to get an idea of the magnitude of the situation. The mission report confirmed the seriousness of the situation and indicated that in the absence of a response, the lives of the city's inhabitants are threatened by waterborne diseases.

Faced with the immense need for hydraulic structures (in terms of drilling to be built) and the lack of financial resources, World Vision proposed the rehabilitation of the water network to supply  in the city's ten districts.

 This rehabilitation consisted of:

- Rehabilitate the two boreholes that carry water into the water tower to distribute it to households in ten districts. Rehabilitation of damaged hydrants.

- Rehabilitation of the water distribution network.

- Training and equipment of local technicians.

- Support for raising awareness among the beneficiary population of good hygiene practices and the maintenance of standpipes.

On July 19, 2019, this promise became a reality with the reception and handing over of the keys to the renovated castle and fire hydrants to the administrative and municipal authorities of the city of Gore. This achievement was made possible through the project "Emergency assistance for rehabilitation of the water supply network in Gore city in southern Chad" funded by World Vision Canada for $20,000 to fulfill the promise of providing access to safe drinking water and a healthy environment for the most vulnerable children.

Helene Denaimon is a resident of the Gore district1 widow mother of 7 children and 9 grandchildren, a shopkeeper who came to take water from the standpipe attached to her house gives her testimony.

<<< I am Helene, I am filled with joy this morning when I heard on the radio that the water tower is on... You have no idea the suffering of the women in this neighborhood. We have not had drinking water in this district for 4 years. There is a single well open-air water supply that supplies the entire district. You have to get up very early to hope to have a bucket of water, we do not have the means to pay with peddlers, a 20-litre canister costs 50 CFA francs. Today that the standpipe works I no longer have to complain about my business because I use a lot of water. I am prepared to pay the price that the committee will set for the operation of the plant.  On behalf of the neighborhood I would like to thank you>>>

Admittedly, rehabilitation is effective, but for the whole city to have access to drinking water at all times for a long time.

Emphasis was put on reviewing the commission in charge of management of water in Gore to ensure regular maintenance of the water system.