Sub-Saharan Africa still lacks safe drinking water

Kenya-Water Shortage -- Sub Saharan Africa still lacks safe drinking water

CCTV BEIJING -The United Nations is chest thumping this week as it has met the Millennium Development Goal to halve the proportion of people with no safe drinking water well ahead of the 2015 deadline.

More than two billion people have now gained access to better drinking water sources such as piped supplies and protected wells. However out of the 783 million people who have no access to safe water, almost half of them are in sub Saharan Africa.

In several villages in central Kenya, villagers may not be blamed for dismissing the United Nations proclamation as a bad joke, given the dire water situation in the region.

A drop of water perhaps symbolizes how life may be trickling to a halt. And it is just happening in Ndeiya in Limuru, central Kenya, which is about 50 kilometers from the capital Nairobi.

Much of the area is semi arid and as such residents there have borne the brunt of lacking the precious water. For the last two days, this borehole in Kiriri village which also serves as a watering point for animals has been closed. But it's nothing unusual there.

"It depends. It can close for three to four days or even a week, they don't care," said Byte Stephen, a local resident.

The borehole has been dug and is run by an independent water company. With no other alternative, residents have to bear the consequences.

"Even if I want to bathe, I can't because there's no water," said Byte Stephen

Ten kilometers away at Ngoirobi, alsol in Ndeiya, the constant search for water is evident almost everywhere. But unlike Kiriri, the borehole in the local church, which is among several commissioned over the last five years, has made a difference.

Benson Kamau comes from a neighboring village eight kilometers away.

"It's helping people. It's never run out of water for the last five years, the church opens it every day," said Benson Kamau.

Benson Kamau has to make the trip almost daily depending on his domestic needs. To fill up his 210 liter drum, he pays 40 shillings, while a 20-litre jerrican goes for three shillings or 3 U.S. cents.

Kit Dyer is the UNICEF east, central and southern Africa regional coordinator for water supply and sanitation.

"Couple of the key bottlenecks for the next year is about physical challenges. In large countries, it is very difficult to get resources there for the people, to help them build their own toilet and find their own water supplies," said Kit Dyer.

According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, 6.1 billion people now use improved drinking water sources with over two billion people having gained this access between 1990 and 2010.

But there are disparities in regions and countries while half of those who gained this access living in China and India.

And the situation is further compounded by poor sanitation. More than 3,000 children under five die annually because of diarrhea in Africa.

People need to change their behavior. But in the meantime as that remains a pipe dream for many in Africa, the search for clean water continues.

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