Improving Water & Sanitation in Africa

Written by: Jessica

This is part of a series of articles on Africa I’ve written in CIM newsletter and blog. Other blogs written recently are Aids & Children in Africa and Progress in Liberia. These entries are posted in the newsletter as well as online.

“We shall not finally defeat AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, or any of the other infectious diseases that plague the developing world until we have also won the battle for safe drinking water, sanitation and basic health care.” – Kofi Annan, Former United Nations Secretary-General

I’ve been perusing the information on difficulties in Africa, and I was struck by this quote – it’s seems to break complexities down to simple terms and I thought “improving lives in Africa is doable”. Access to clean water is so crucial and individuals can make a difference. A $10.00 donation towards a well can have a lifetime impact for an individual, while a $50 donation can meet 1 household’s daily needs for life. That is a reachable goal. I thought of my own water usage in a day: showering, washing dishes, flushing the toilet, brushing our teeth and drinking water. I do all these things without considering that I could get ill, or wonder if I’ll have enough water for the day – yet thousands of families in Africa have to consider these things every day. How can this be so?

Here is a woman’s story as told on AMREF’s site:

Water was always on my mind
My Name is Ester Nzomo. I am a mother of 4 and a farmer. 3 years ago I used to spend 8 hours a day in search of and collecting water. I would wake up at 3 in the morning to walk 12 kms to collect a 20 litre jerry can of water which I carried on my head. Often the water I managed to find was contaminated and my children often suffered from diarrhea and typhoid. In 2000 AMREF mobilised all the women in my village and provided material to build a shallow well. Now I spend minutes and not hours collecting water and I am able to grow maize and cow peas on my farm. My children are able to spend more time in school because they are not sick. In fact some of my friends’ children are able to attend school for the first time because they are no longer needed to help fetch water.
If you gave AMREF $1,500 you could provide the building materials, with the labour provided by the community, for a new well for another village, which will serve about 500 people. $150 could rehabilitate one local village well while $25 could fund an AMREF water stall to supply clean drinking water to 600 people for a month

As I’ve read about water access in Africa, I’ve noticed it’s always connected with proper sanitation. Improper sanitation pollutes water and causes many of the water-borne illnesses. Waterborne illnesses are one of the top causes for infant mortality and killers of children under five. Water is often dirtied or not ingestible due to chemicals, animal or human waste which can cause diseases such as diarrhea, choera, typhoid, baccilary disentry, polio, meningitis, malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis A and E among others. All of which are entirely preventable. Beyond age five, there is still poor access as many schools do not have proper sanitation for children (hand-washing, toilets). As a whole, only 36% of Africa has access to proper sanitation and 45% access to clean water.

Water is scarce or unavailable when there are droughts, improperly dug wells, or no wells at all. Women walk miles to collect water for their days’work. A chart I found from a UN Human Development Report on Water & Sanitization showed water usage per country/person/day. The average person in the US uses about 5-600 litres of water a day as compared to someone living in Denmark or Germany who uses 200 litres of water per day and yet even more amazing is those at or below the water-poverty threshold 50 litres per day – those in Africa (Niger, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique. And there are a number of people who do not have access at all. Why is there not enough access to water in Africa? Looking at a few reports from WHO/ UNICEF, and various other agencies – it’s obvious that Africa is among the leading countries that is in need of clean water & sanitization and has had the least improvement in water and sanitation over the past 5 years, particularly in the rural areas.

Why should we care about sanitation and water in Africa? Well, because it’s a basic need and can affect millions of people.
“Water and Sanitation is one of the primary drivers of public health. I often refer to it as “Health 101”, which means that once we can secure access to clean water and to adequate sanitation facilities for all people, irrespective of the difference in their living conditions, a huge battle against all kinds of diseases will be won.” –Dr LEE Jong-wook, Director-General, World Health Organization.

Building wells in Africa, helping to sanitize water and educate people in good hygiene are 3 ways that agencies like UNICEF, WHO, AMERF working within the Millenium Project have outlined a Water for Life plan in a booklet form have a goal of reducing by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation by 2015. These agencies have large goals, large staffs and researchers, but I believe it’s important to see the large picture to see where we as individuals or groups can put our efforts. On a smaller scale – many churches, organizations and individuals are raising money to build wells or partnering with communities or churches in Africa. So, we can be thankful that access to sanitation and clean water is happening. Active organizations working specifically with water and sanitation in Africa are:
Play Pumps International, Blood Water Mission, Covenant Mercies, The African Well Fund (started by U2 Fans) and The Water Project are groups I know of that are helping to bring clean water and sanitation to specific countries in Africa.

While this information can be overwhelming, I think it is a conviction of mine to be a good steward of what we’ve been given – and we in the US, even in the poorest families are considered rich compared to most other nations. We should respond in thankfulness in seeing God’s grace in our lives for simple things like running water in our kitchens, that we have no need to walk five miles to collect water, that we have clean water and sanitation and most of us have not gotten sick or had friend’s children or our own children die from water-borne illnesses. We should respond in prayer for those in need, and in action if God would so call us to it.

List of resources on Water in Africa:
African Medical and Research Foundation water project
African Well Fund (NY)
Global Partners for Development
Global Water Challenge (UN Project)
World Health Organization Report (2004)

Five Point Plan for Iraq

Four years and tens of thousands of dead soldiers / civilians later, the United States is still in Iraq with no end in sight. Because of this, i have developed a five point plan based in Biblical principles to get the United States out of this conflict and to help Iraqis regain some stability. First, a little background is necessary. We often hear the Pottery Barn theory (You broke it, you bought it) used in reference to Iraq; however, what we never hear is – it is broken because we are still there! In my studying of Iraq and the Middle East, I have come to one determination – there would be less violence in Iraq if we left. Why, you ask – simple, three main reasons:

1. There was never a suicide attack in Iraq until the US invaded
2. In the Islamic faith, there are few bigger insults than occupation of land. They believe their land to be sacred and worth giving their lives for.
3. From 1980-2003 (pre-9-11) every single suicide attack on record around the world occurred by people whose land was currently being occupied.

This means – Land occupation plays a greater role in suicide bombings than religion. This was proven in Robert A. Pape’s editorial in the New York Times two years ago entitled “Blowing up an Assumption.” He actually showed that out of 315 incidents, only 27 were committed by Islamic groups, but the one element that they all had in common was land occupation. Actually, even 9-11 had something to do with land. One of Bin Laden’s biggest reasons for attacking was the US occupying presence and influence over Saudi Arabia. So, truly I believe that violence will settle down once the US soldiers leave Iraq.

However, America’s leaving Iraq is only one part of my five point plan to get us out of the Iraq quagmire in a way that will serve the Iraqi people and save both Iraqi and American lives. First, let us focus and meditate on what the Bible calls us to do in the face of those that we consider enemies.

Luke 6:27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Of course, a major argument for us remaining in Iraq is the possibility of violence escalating when we exit; however, the loss of innocent lives already occur at devastating levels with us there – over 1,000 Iraqi’s killed each month and one million Iraqi’s leaving Iraq thus far, so how much worse could it get? But, I will say, my plan is not for us to evacuate right now. Instead, the United States needs to do something radical:

Point One We need to announce when our occupation will end – yes, that is right, create a timeline for withdrawl. As I have outlined above, our occupying presence is such an insult to those of the Islamic faith, especially when they consider it to be a Christian occupying presence, that announcing a complete withdrawl will stem the violence. As we have seen this weekend, with tens of thousands of Iraqi’s taking the streets shouting for America to leave, our presence there is a major factor in the violence. It was also announced this weekend that the iconic man that chopped down the statue of Saddam was quoted as saying ~ I wish Saddam was still in power – he was a tyrant, but not as bad as the United States occupation. We need to let the Iraqi people know clearly that we will not continue to occupy their land.

Point Two We need to change the focus of the mission from combat to humanitarian efforts. Currently the focus of the mission is based on hunting down insurgents and winning a military victory. In the process, we end up terrorizing innocent civilians and creating more terrorists in the process. Two different soldiers that have recently been in Iraq have said to me that they cannot tell the difference between innocent civilians and insurgents, so often they just assume they are all insurgents. One said specifically, they are all terrorists anyways, because I cannot tell them apart. And another said that the civilians know who the terrorists are and do not tell us ~ so they are all terrorists. When we are sending soldiers into civilian houses with this mindset, I think it is obvious why the Iraq study group said that our efforts in Iraq are creating more terrorists than they are preventing.

Instead of continuing a millitary strategy and creating more terrorists in process, we need to announce that we are leaving and that our combat mission will be changing to a humanitarian effort.

Point Three We must market this new effort and new focus to the Iraqi people, the United States citizens, to the other countries of the Middle East, and to the rest of the world. We must announce all over Iraq that we will no longer be hunting down insurgents; instead, we will be rebuilding pipelines, getting clean drinking water, getting electricity to work, etc. Most importantly, we will create a program that creates a large amount of jobs! For the amount of money that we spend in one month in Iraq we could create a program that would give jobs to most of the unemployed workers in Iraq. This gives them insentive to flee from the insurgency and work for a better Iraq. ~ We need to ask the Iraqis to rally around us to rebuild. Of course, we will respond when attacked, and we will do everything for defense of our soldiers lives that we can (besides going on the offense that is), but our main mission will change to rebuilding and leaving.

In order to be convincing with this change, we need to spread the ideas behind this new mission via word of mouth, television, radio, and leaflets. The marketing of this new campaign is important, because the average person in Iraq must believe that our new focus is entirely to help rebuild. If we can do this, I truly believe many of the average Iraqi civilians will begin working against the insurgency and helping the US rebuild.

This must also be explained to the American people, so that 75 percent of the US population or more can get behind this misison again. If our purpose is truly benevolant, i believe that this will happen. If we are truthful about changing completely to a humanitarian mission, I think that the 75 percent of us that are in the middle politically, will rally together and only those on the extreme ends of the spectrum will still be against the effort. This is integral, because a nation cannot enact change in the world unless we are united.

This idea must be sold to the countries of the Middle East and the rest of the world as well. If peace is ever going to come to Iraq again it is only possible with much of the world rallying together in this effort. We must talk to Syria, Iran, Turkey, and other countries. As argued by the 9-11 comission, even at the height of the cold-war Reagan talked to Russia. We need to create incentives for them to get involved in a positive manner. This is important in the world at large as well because if we are to ever solve this crisis, we need the world with us.

Point Four Ask the UN and the world for help. Once we change this mission to a complete humanitarian mission, then we need to humble ourselves at the UN and ask for help. We need to be clear that we will do everything that we can to help Iraq rebuild, but that we cannot do it alone. We need to ask the United Nations that if we change to a complete humanitarian effort, if they will come in and help us and transition Iraq now or after we leave. If we offer to give total control of the effort to the UN, they will accept it. What seems to hold back UN involvement is: 1. The US asking for help, and 2. Most importantly, handing over complete control to them. They do not want to be a part of a US led mission, but in my research I have come to believe that if we relinquish total control to them, they will take it.

This is an integral part of the plan because as long as there is a US face at the front of this effort, there will be a large – violent insurgency. However, once it is the world’s face instead of our own, I feel that the average person in Iraq will team up with the world, not against it.

Point Five Either the US or if we can get the UN involved needs to sit down with the leaders of the different factions in Iraq to negotiate a settlement. Why has this not happened to a greater extent already? I have no explanation, but it seems like the most obvious point of any of this. We need to send someone like Jimmy Carter, who has negotiated peace treaties in the Middle East in the past, or Bill Richardson, who recently negotiated successfully with North Korea, or someone representing the world body to attempt to bring these factions together. I think that one of the biggest injustices that has taken place so far in Iraq is that this has not yet happened on a larger, regular scale. We need some impartial negotiators to stay in Iraq and hammer out a settlement no matter how long it takes.

In conclusion, of course, a lot more than this would need to take place, but I think that this would radically change the course in Iraq for the better. While i do not believe that the United States millitary will ever act completely in a Christ-like manner (as they are secular by definition), I think that Christians need to hold them and the government accountable and do everything that we can to get them to act in a way that is just. Of course, Iraq is an extreme mess right now and the loss of life seems endless, but I truly believe if our effort is truly benevolent, with as little brute force as possible, then the support will come. If we give up our profits from this endeavor and act in a manner that sanctifies life – all life – then everyone will gain.

A Poorly Written, Thinly Veiled Allegorical Short Story

Guest Writer: Nate

In the year 2032, China, the new democratic world superpower, invaded America. The United States had been hauled before the U.N. security council because of its proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons, but, like so many other “rogue states” before it, it remained defiant. The U.N. attempted to send in weapons inspectors to check on the progress of U.S. weapons programs, but had been rebuffed.

Every diplomatic avenue taken and failed, then, China concluded that invasion was the last resort for eliminating the threat America posed to the world– after all, it proliferated nuclear weapons, had supported nasty dictators, and had a nasty track record of invading sovereign states without U.N. permission.

No matter, the Chinese leadership said. America had a formidable military, yes, but President Sherman had for several years been quite unpopular, including among military brass. “We will be greeted as liberators,” Chinese leaders crowed. “The people, realizing they could be free of such corrupt leadership, will be glad to see us!”

Were they ever wrong. Americans, as it turned out, had a thing against foreign invaders, no matter what their opinion of their President. The military put up a heroic but ultimately futile stand agains the Chinese invaders, but hundreds of thousands of individual gun owners rushed to the streets to form makeshift militias. These proved devastating to the occupiers. Furthermore, the Chinese made the mistake of laying off several million workers from a number of corporations deemed corrupt. Their intention was noble: they would set up new companies based on Chinese ideology. Because of the violence and the fact that Americans were loath to accept the occupiers’ concepts, though, these companies never got off the ground, leaving millions of workers permanently unemployed.

This, of course, had dire effects on the violence. Out of work, many normally-law-abiding citizens turned to militias as their only source of identity and money. These militia leaders, after all, paid handsomely to plant bombs and shoot Chinese soldiers, and many men and boys jumped at these opportunities.

Although there are competing stories of what happened next, it seems that the nation spiraled into civil war from that point on. Warlords ruled the streets, paying their soldiers to kill others, and men willingly did it, as they had no other hope for money. Traditional social bonds broke down, and soon major battles were breaking out between left and right, caucasian and Mexican-American. People who would not normally have killed each other now believed in the doctrine of war after seeing so many of their loved ones killed.

The war in America was long unpopular among a certain portion of the Chinese populace. But now that the war was getting bogged down, a fierce debate broke out. Some spoke thus: “What is wrong with these people? Do they not have the capacity to enjoy freedom? It just doesn’t make sense why they would turn to violence rather than helping to create a better society.” Those same people rushed to question the patriotism of their political opponents. “We need to win this thing,” they said. “There are terrorists in America who oppose the freedom we have brought, and they must be defeated.” Nevertheless, the Chinese government strangely did not address the economic problems that stood behind so much of the American violence.

Sadly, Chinese politicians on both sides paid little attention to American wishes. Pull out, stay the course, good Americans versus terrorists– those were common words in the political debate. But few were listening to those Americans, some of whom were even involved in the violence, who wished for jobs that could help to curb the strife.

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Truly– it does not make sense. Or does it?