Tigray needs 735 million birr to supply water for drought hit areas

Addis Ababa, 26 December 2015(WIC) -The Tigray regional state water resource bureau said that it needs about 735 million birr to supply potable water to areas affected by the drought.

Head of the Bureau, Gebremeskel Tareke, told WIC that out of the 34 woredas of the region, 31 are hit by the drought and are in need of emergency food and water aid.

Even if the region is providing emergency food aid, we are faced with severe water shortage, he noted.

The region is working to save lives, to prevent migration to other areas, and enable students attend classes, he said.

The bureau has requested 116 water pumps and 96 power generators in addition to the specified amount of money for the water supply, Gebremeskel underscored.

The region is now supplying potable water to 16 woredas via money allocated both by the federal government and the regional bureau.

Water transporting vehicles are allocated to each woreda of the region, he said.

The region has dug 24 water wells in areas known as Raya Alamata, Raya zebo, Enderta, Degua Temben, Samre, Kilite Awulalo, Adigrat, Tahtay Adiabo, Tsegede and Tselemt 23 water pumps and 30 generators are distributed to 16 woredas to fetch water from streams, he added.

The government, the regional state and other private bodies are making efforts to stave off the effect of the drought on people, animals and the environment, Walta Learnt.