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Beyond2020, a UAE-driven humanitarian initiative launched by the Zayed Prize for Sustainability and its partners, has improved safe water access for 20,000 people in rural Tawait and Tahger in Eastern Sudan.
Two small solar-powered water farms—a groundwater pumping system capable of delivering 20 liters per person per day—were installed in the village to improve water accessibility, sanitation and health.
The deployment of Beyond2020 in Sudan was implemented by 2017 Zayed Sustainability Prize winner Practical Action, a UK-based not-for-profit organization that works with communities to develop solutions to the challenges they face through creative and sustainable solutions. challenge.
Both villages are located in the densely populated Tel Kuk district of Kassala state. The Tel Kuk are nomadic people who keep livestock and migrate seasonally across vast areas in search of pasture and water. Years of drought and a deteriorating environment have affected these vulnerable groups, who face significant losses of livestock and threats to their traditional way of life. This reduces the seasonal migration of livestock to shorter distances for grazing, while also affecting the rain-dependent farming of the population because they cannot move around.
climate change
Climate change in these regions has resulted in less rainfall and higher temperatures, which has reduced groundwater supplies. Periodic flooding has also increased, causing damage to water supply infrastructure, soil erosion, loss of crops and livestock, and destruction of forests and pastures.
Sarah Roberts, CEO of Practical Action, said: “We would like to thank the Beyond2020 initiative, its partners and the UAE government for supporting the effective and rapid delivery of clean drinking and sanitation to remote rural communities in densely populated areas affected by climate. Eastern Sudan impacted by change. This improves access to one of the most important human needs, which in turn improves basic public services.”
Humanitarian projects in Sudan aim to improve sanitation and reduce unsanitary practices that lead to contamination of surface water and groundwater sources, especially during the rainy season, to address and minimize the high incidence of water-borne diseases, especially among children. A study conducted by Practical Action during the planning phase showed that as many as 21% of children in target communities reported having diarrheal diseases.
long distance
Another key issue that the Beyond2020 deployment aims to address is that villagers, especially women and children, must travel long distances to access local water sources. Unable to use vehicles, they will have to walk across 2 to 4 kilometers of rough terrain, often bypassing the banks of the delta most affected by waterborne diseases. This includes traversing invasive mesquite forests that pose health risks to humans and livestock.
In addition, the Beyond2020 deployment in Sudan created sanitation management committees at the community level to increase awareness of how to safely use water, sanitation, hygiene services and productive use of energy. The committee includes women with 30% female representation to ensure that women’s concerns influence decision-making.
In addition, two female-managed farms will be established to use excess water from solar-powered mini-water farms. This will provide women with access to outdoor income, nutritious food, new vegetable varieties and training.
Number of partners
Beyond2020 brings together a number of partners including Abu Dhabi Development Fund, Mubadala Energy and Masdar.
As part of Beyond2020’s impact to date, 14 deployments have been launched, including in Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda, Jordan, Egypt, Cambodia, Madagascar, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Philippines, Rwanda, Peru, and Lebanon. In addition to Sudan, six other countries have been identified for future deployments. — trade arab news agency
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