Kunchileyiri community face water crisis due to borehole shortage

Residents of Kunchileyiri, a community in the Wa West District, are grappling with a severe water crisis as they queue for long hours at the only functional borehole in the area.

The residents say their water demand far exceeds the supply, making it difficult to access clean water for daily use.

According to the residents, the community has only two boreholes, but one has been out of service for some time, putting immense pressure on the remaining functional one.

Women often find themselves in disputes at the borehole as they struggle to secure water for their families.

Speaking to Info Radio, some residents lamented the adverse impact of the water crisis on their daily activities.

"We spend hours just to fetch a few buckets of water. It is exhausting, and it disrupts our ability to carry out other essential tasks," a concerned resident shared.

The situation has also affected schoolchildren. The residents mentioned that the schoolchildren often go without drinking water during school hours. Parents worry that the lack of water is affecting their children’s health and concentration in class.

Speaking on behalf of the chief of Kunchileyiri, Mr Maase Yaane, highlighted another major challenge of the uneven distribution of boreholes.

He explained that the only functioning borehole is located in one section of the community, forcing residents from other parts of Kunchileyiri to trek long distances to access water.

The residents are calling on the government, relevant agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to intervene by repairing the broken boreholes and providing additional water sources to alleviate their suffering.