In pictures: Ethiopia drought

Early morning – New borehole under construction, Dewele
As the day dawns, Oxfam staff – Binian Belayneh, a Public Health Engineer and Asrat Bogale, Livelihoods Officer – inspect work on the new borehole.

The new borehole will be finished by the end of November and will include waterpoints, animal troughs and a 2km long pipeline to the town to provide 5,000 people with water.

The trench for the pipeline will be dug as part of a cash-for-work project involving 40 people over 10 days and so providing households with much needed cash during this difficult time.

Photo: Jane Beesley

Breakfast – Dewele
One of the first jobs of the day is to go down to the riverbed and collect water from unprotected hand-dug wells.

"We are drinking water from the open wells in the riverbed. It’s not good water. We’re drinking that until we get the water from the new borehole," says Hassan Ajib. All the dirt from the animals gets into these open wells, "... so diseases have come with the rain and now we are in more trouble because of the rain than hunger," Hassan adds.

Because water is so scarce, people are forced to use whatever water they can find even from contaminated sources. The cost of filling a jerry can has increased 100%. The new borehole (above) and piped water will soon provide people here with safe, clean water. "It will be a better life. We haven’t drunk clean water for two years," says Abdulahi Haya.

Photo: Jane Beesley

Mid-morning - Rebe
After washing Kadar (2), Mako pumps water from the new pump.

"We used to dig in the sand to get water. Now we have this pump it’s better and cleaner. Before the water was uncovered and dust and animal droppings were always getting into the water making it dirty," says Mako.

Photo: Jane Beesley

Late morning – Adele

The new taps provide a good supply of water. Oxfam’s work here has included rehabilitation of wells, including a motorised system, training a water management committee and public health training.

Now the community is selling water to both the government and to Oxfam, so they can truck water to less fortunate communities.

"We use the money to fix the pipeline and other maintenance," says Saida Roble, cashier of the water committee. "The public health promotion training made a great difference, and now the improved sanitation has made it a lot better for people living here… When Oxfam came we were about to migrate… but it’s thanks to Oxfam that we are here."

Photo: Jane Beesley

Early afternoon – Degago

Inspecting the new motor Musa Hadi (left) with Binian Belayneh, Oxfam Public Health Engineer.

"We were isolated before Oxfam came. We’d been using a well here that had been left by a previous organisation but there were technical problems... We used to get water from the valley. It was unclean... People suffered a lot of sickness. It used to take 2–3 hours to collect. Now it’s in the village and takes no time… there’s a lot of enjoyment of water now!" says Habsan Hassan.

Photo: Jane Beesley

Early morning – Senechef

It takes a team of ten women to collect water from down a cave. In the background a concrete wall forms part of the newly constructed rock dam.

"The drought has affected us very badly. Water has come less and less. After the drought started our animals began dying. This cave is our only source of water here… When there’s a drought it takes us a full day [to get water]. We work in groups of ten. When we’ve finished another group of ten will take our place… we just collect water for ourselves – we cook, we give some to some small livestock, wash children.

"We come every day. We’ve depended on this water source for 8 months of this year," says Hawa Omar Kahin.

Oxfam has recently constructed a rock dam. "It will be very effective for us if the rain comes and fills it – that will make a big difference," Hawa adds.

Photo: Jane Beesley

Mid-morning – Elehele

Medina Ismael washes clothes using water from a hand pump. The solar panel unit is in the background. Oxfam installed solar power, constructed pumps and water points, laid water pipes and provided a water tank.

"The solar energy powers the water pump... Before we used to dig here in the dry riverbed and wild animals used to come and use it at night. The solar unit is a very precious thing," said Yonis Osman, member of the water committee.

Photo: Jane Beesley

Late-morning – Biyogurgur

Work has been on-going to construct this borehole and housing for a generator. During the initial drilling people from the local village were so happy when they saw that there was water they killed 3–4 goats to celebrate.

Photo: Jane Beesley