I have just discovered the following article and photos. By the way no idea where Laaye village is located but since I see cows, its probably in Gabiley zone.
LINK: http://www.oxfamblogs.org/eastafrica/?p=7402Built to last: Oxfam water projects
Is this a dam, or is it a reservoir? Or is it a pond?
It’s all of the above really.
The remote village of Laaye in Somaliland has neither electricity, nor paved roads. What they do have, is more access to water in a man-made reservoir, thanks to Oxfam and local partner agency HAVOYOCO.
“This holds 20,000 cubic liters of water,” said Mohamud Abdillahi pointing at the reservoir. “It’s two meters deep, about 100 meters X 100 meters.”
Mohamud brought me to this village today, and he works for HAVOYOCO. Locally, this water source is referred to as a dam, and as a community facilitator and trained engineer, he helped to design it.
This water project started back in 2010, and it was built with earth moving machinery. Now completed, this reservoir provides the water needs for more than 500 households in and around Laaye. As there has been drought this year in Somaliland, this dam has been crucial to the community’s survival. Water should be available here for four months.
As we are talking, 16 year old Yasmin Hussein from Laaye approaches the water’s edge. She has 10 brothers and sisters, and has come to the reservoir to fill two water containers.
“Before the dam, I had to walk 1 ½ hours to get water,” Yasmin tells me. (Total trip: three hours!) She used to make that long walk every other day, but now with the new reservoir only five minutes from the village, she fetches water every day. The easier access to more plentiful water has brought her family positive changes, including improved cleanliness.
“Now I can wash clothes every day. We can wash our hands more,” she says. “And we save more time.” She says that since the village children spend less time fetching water, they have more time to attend school. “I thank Oxfam for building this dam,” she says. “Now water is close to the community.”
The reservoir supplies Laaye’s residents with water for bathing and cleaning. Since it is open air, the community is advised to boil it before using it for drinking, or for cooking.
But there is another use for the dam’s water. It is also used for the number one local business: pastoralism. Most of the families in Laaye raise camels, goats or sheep for a living, and their animal herds are brought to this dam where they drink their fill of water, usually every day. This water project is part of a larger program called, “Human Security for Vulnerable Pastoralists and Agro-Pastoralists in Ethiopia and Somaliland”. The four year project will build resilience for vulnerable communities, and is funded by the government of the Netherlands.
Also outside of Laaye, is a large birkad, which is a Somali term for a local cistern. This berkhad was also built by Oxfam and HAVOYOCO back in 2008. It’s good to see that the birkad is still in use today, and serves as another water source for the community.
Walking past the mosque into the village, I meet with Khadra Ali in front of a tea shop. A grandmother of 11, Hadra has been the Women’s Co-operative Chairman for 10 years. She agrees that life before the reservoir was constructed was very difficult.
“Water was scarce,” she explains. “We used to use water tankers.” Back then the community had water brought in by truck, and it was costly. Water for each family could rise to as much as $120 a month, a huge expense for such a small village in Somaliland.
“Now the situation is much better,” Khadra says. “The proximity to water is much closer. It’s better for our livestock too.”
As I continue to explore the village, I walk into a small shop on Laaye’s only road. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I see several village residents inside are seated on the floor.
“Salaam Allaikoom,” I say in the traditional greeting.
“Allaikoom wa salaam,” a couple of them responds to me in unison.
Not speaking much Somali, I point to myself and say, “Oxfam.”
I hear even more of them respond with recognition, “Ah, Oxfam… Oxfam… Oxfam… Oxfam.”
I’m pleased to hear that they know Oxfam by name, and the good work that Oxfam has done here to improve the water systems in the village. By working together with members of this community, and in partnership with HAVOYOCO, Oxfam has built a good reputation in this little corner of the world known as Laaye.
Ras
