Water, first of all

In the Horn of Africa, history goes round in circles. In turn, countries are drawing closer together, but only to form a common front against their neighbors. Decades of war have brought disaster, poverty, and daily insecurity; endless disputes fuel latent conflicts, closing laboriously reopened openings. Many, many young people still try to flee, risking everything for an uncertain hope. Many others try in every way to live despite scarcity, drought, and constant challenges.

Facing these situations is It's far from simple, but not impossible either... In Eritrea, we've been developing a broad program for the rehabilitation of wells and their structures in at least a dozen villages in the Gash-Barka region for some time: 47,000 square kilometers in the western lowlands, bordering Ethiopia and Sudan, with a population of 1 million. Potentially a fertile area, with water resources and capable of good agricultural yields, but it has suffered for decades from war and drought, with intense movements of people seeking refuge.

Having safe water for consumption, in quantity, is important: instead of contaminated water, collected in minimal quantities over very long distances, usually on foot, under the sun. The scattered villages rely only on traditional subsistence agriculture and small-scale livestock farming. Very simple, precarious, and tiring lives. The wells are around 50 meters deep, with a flow rate of 1 liter/sec – or 25,000 liters/day. For each one, it involves installing photovoltaic submersible pumps (with a photovoltaic system to power them), pipelines, a tank, and fountains. The result is that the community is strengthened: its sanitation and hygiene conditions are rapidly improving, and it supports some horticultural activities and family livestock farming.

The wells of three villages were reactivated in the last months of 2024 and the beginning of 2025: Overall, approximately 5,000 inhabitants and schools are now served in a relatively short time. Three more will be started as soon as possible; the availability of water will increase. There will also be other programs for the human development of their people, here too 5,500 people in total. The costs will be higher: reservoirs and pipelines will also need to be installed to ensure complete autonomy.

The hope is that, in addition to these, another couple of villages can be added this year. A challenging goal, but technically possible: there is a great desire to achieve it. This desire can be seen in the smiles around the new fountains. And it inspires new commitments: building warehouses to store the precious seeds – ensuring everyone can have them – and donating a handyman donkey to poor families, single mothers with children, and the elderly. A great help for transporting and plowing, whose maintenance can be Be affordable for everyone.

The project enjoys significant support from Pedrollo, a leading manufacturer of hydraulic pumps. Pedrollo has provided the three electric pumps used so far, perfectly suitable models, and will contribute to the project's continuity by also providing them for all the other villages involved. The logistical complexities were managed through excellent collaboration. As always, it is the collaboration of many friends that has allowed us to meet the necessary materials and work; just like for all those to follow...

NP April '25

Mauro Palombo