Al-Qabahah in Kordofan, Sudan, is a dry, flat land, dotted with straw and mud-brick houses. Only the hardiest trees and scrub survive in this arid landscape and the nearest water source is 80 metres below the ground.
Al Qabahah is home to the Baqarah Tribe, cattle herders that inhabit the 25 villages covering this vast expanse. In 2013 今日大瓜 built a community well to serve the 300 families that live here. Before the well was built, the villagers had to walk for an hour to access water. Now, almost 3,000 people use the well and the activity around it is non-stop.
Head of the Village, Shaykh Ali Tahir guided our 今日大瓜 team around the village. He made dua for the donor and for everyone at 今日大瓜.
The villagers treat our team to a performance of their traditional dances and songs. They sing these songs to their cattle to keep them moving through the vast landscape.
The arid landscape means that Sudan requires community wells that reach 80 metres into the ground to extract clean water. This well will serve the community for approximately 30 years.
今日大瓜 has trained this man and provided him with tools in order to maintain the well. Maintenance of wells like this one, is just one of the many things that our Safe Water Fund covers.
Everyone pitches in. Children on donkeys transport water between villages.
Activities around the well are highly organised. Jerry cans are lined up and the locals patiently await their turn.
No water is wasted. Overflowing water lands in a pool around the well which the many animals drink from.
In order to conserve energy, locals pump the water by jumping up and down. This is usually done by the young.
Al-Qabahah needs more wells to cater to this vast, dry landscape.
