USAID rehabilitates 35 boreholes in Akobo, Budi, Jur River, and Wau. (Photo: Courtesy).

The United States Agency for International Development has handed over 35 renovated boreholes to five counties in the country.

The rehabilitation of the boreholes, implemented by “The USAID Afia Wash Project” is said to benefit 20,000 people with access to water.

The five-year Afia project was launched in October 2021. The rehab cost 124,000 US dollars.

“This event that we just had in Kapoeta north was the symbolic handover of rehabilitated boreholes,” said Dennis Daniel Mwanza, USAID Afia Wash Project, Chief of Party.

“We rehabilitated about 35 boreholes in the five counties, and the five counties are Akobo, Kapoeta north, Jur River, Budi and Wau, a total of 35 boreholes, benefiting more than 30,000 people in terms of access in water services,” he said further.

The agency works with local communities to establish water management committees, elected by the community members to manage water facilities in their respective areas.

In Kapoeta north, 8 rehabilitated boreholes were handed over to the local communities last week.

Other counties that benefited from the clean water infrastructures are Akobo, Budi, Jur River, and Wau.

Speaking to the media in Kapoeta North County, Denis added: “This water was actually tested in all these 35 boreholes and there were found to be of the right quality for people to use for drinking direct from the boreholes.”

“Any environmental concerns were also addressed. The main objective of this program is to increase what we call gender transformative access to basic water, sanitation.”

The five counties are parts of areas the USAID is working on to improve access to clean water and sanitation services.

In December 2021, the Washington implementing agency announced its plan to expand equitable and sustainable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene in 13 counties in South Sudan.

The counties include Kapoeta North and Budi counties in Eastern Equatoria State, Akobo, Duk, Pibor, and Uror counties in Jonglei State, Leer, Mayendit, and Panyijar counties in Unity State.

Others are Baliet and Ulang counties in Upper Nile State and Jur River and Wau counties in Western Bahr-el Ghazal.

It stated that the Gender-Aware, Sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene activity will strengthen coordination in the sectors of water, sanitation, hygiene, and management in the 13 focus counties.

This, it said, will be conducted by fostering leadership—including through training and the empowerment of women, providing technical assistance, and engaging the private sector and social enterprises.

The statement added that it will also expand water, sanitation, and hygiene services in the target counties, with water infrastructure investments in schools and health facilities, incorporating input from women, men, youth, children, and vulnerable groups.