A $75.5 million project was launched on Friday in a bid to provide access to clean water to more than 1.6 million people in Ethiopia in the next five years.
World Vision Ethiopia, a relief organization, launched the project, named Water4Life+, in collaboration with government ministries.
WV Ethiopia in a statement said the newly launched project aims to provide 100 percent access to safe water to 415 schools, 281 healthcare facilities, and more than 1.6 million people in eight regional states.
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) financed the project which also aims to improve the hygiene of the targeted communities.
The WV Ethiopia says it will be implemented in two phases in Oromia, Amhara, SNNP, Benishangul Gumuz, Afar, Tigray, Gambella, and Somali Regions of the east African nation.
The first phase includes five districts: Gimbichu and Jeldu-Chobi in Oromia; Shebel Beretta and Legambo in Amhara; and Sodo Guraghe in the SNNP Region.
Its second phase is scheduled to begin after 2.5 years, and will cover five additional Woredas.
“The project is taken as an integral part of the multi-sectoral Woreda Transformation Project that aims at transforming the lives of millions of Ethiopians,” said Dr. Fiseha Behulu, Water4 Life + project’s Chief-of-Party.
During the five year implementation period, the project intends to drill 122 deep water wells and 274 shallow wells, and develop 50 springs.
It also aims to rehabilitate 48 water schemes at community, school, and health institution levels, the statement added.
MG/abj/APA