By Evans Dakwa
As the ElNino induced drought continue to have impact on Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) situation in the country, the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is reporting that at least 6028 of boreholes in the rural areas of Zimbabwe were broken as at August 6 2024.
With Boreholes being one of the key sources of clean water in rural areas, the number is staggering and paints a picture of the current WASH situation in the country and UNICEF is urging the Government and it’s partners including the donor community to prioritise the provision of sustainable WASH services in th midst of the ElNino induced drought.
“UNICEF calls on the Government, donor community and partners to prioritise interventions to provide sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for children and their families in communities. Increased funding will enable the implementation of innovative approaches that build community resilience to effectively mitigate the consequences of climate-related shocks, preserve development gains and protect the well-being of children,” said the UN agency in a press briefing.
The challenging water situation and WASH services in the country is ald represented by data that shows only 81% of people in Zimbabwe have access to improved water sources, half of the country’s households have access to basic sanitation and 25 % of these households still pra twice open defacation.
The UN agency also took the opportunity to rally the media toward promoting the messaging that is speaking to acceleration of providing WASH services across the country.
“I call on you—as journalists—to promote this message widely through your networks, thereby supporting our call for prioritising interventions in water, sanitation, and hygiene to respond to Zimbabwe’s drought emergency and ensure sustainable development, ensuring children can develop their full potential,” said the UNICEF representative John Mokwetsi.
The drought induced by El Nino has made it further constrained the provision of WASH services compromising certain human rights such as access to clean water as highlighted by UNCEF.