VILLAGERS FACES THE PROBLEM OF WATER

Ismani-Tarafani village residents in Iringa District are facing double misfortunes, that are the shortage of food and water which forced people especially women and children to wake up early in the morning looking for water, it has been disclosed.

The problem of water is serious in the area and the surrounding villages in Ismani Division but residents have got used to the situation whereby they are forced to bath only two liters of water due to insufficient water resource.

Felister Salum, a mother of five children said, the problem of water in the village is a long time problem, but they are now getting used to the situation.

She told ‘The Guardian’ today that they have to wake up early in the morning to fetch water a distance of eight kilometers, it the water which is available comes out once in a week.

“Since my family uses of water every that is for laundering, drinking and bathing we have to go extra mile to look for water from the water points available in the area,” she said.

“Washing of clothes is done once in a month because very few water vessels keeping water in the house, we have to bath two liters of water instead of 10 liters due to scarcest of precious liquid……” Salum added.

Khadja Hassan (70), said faced the same problem just like Salum and other villages were facing because there funeral was water, and the government could improved the system of water women and girls will be restrained using most of the time looking for water.

“Thank God that I have my children and grand children who helping me looking for water everyday, without them I could not get the water drinking,” said the senior woman.

According to the village executive officer (VEO), Andrew Mgowole, the problem of water is big and it is there to stay and people used to the situation.

He noted that water system which available is old and made of asbestos material which were some of the broken as it was constructed since 1968, hence they don’t produce enough water has it comes out at least twice in the week.

And make the matters worse the rain has not rained for consecutive three years since 2007, as result the resident also face the shortage of food, it the received very little rains during that period.

A total of 80 senior residents at the village received the food support after famine which resulted into food shortage including maize meal, rice, and sugar, beans, cooking oil and dates by one Islamic foundation.

According to the Executive Secretary of the Islamic Foundation Shams Elmi, they have decided to give and distribute food support to the residents of Ismani-Tarafani Village, Ismani Division within Iringa District in Iringa Region after they have learnt that people there were affected by drought.

Elmi, who made sure the food support is reached to the intended residents, noted that there are a lot people who needed humanitarian support in the area including the surrounding villages but the little they have provided will help few especially the senior residents, was like only drop of water in the sea.

“Although there a lot of people who need humanitarian aid in the village but we can only afford just little to a few people regarding but we hope other people will come give aid as while,” he anticipated.

However, the food aid donated to the residents at Ismaini-Tarafani included 200kilograms of maize meal, 300 kilograms of rice, 100 kilograms of sugar, 200 kilograms of beans, 60 liters of cooking oil and 30 packets of dates, as Holy Month of Ramadhan.


The Village Executive Officer (VEO), Andrew Mgowole said that residents who received food aid came from the four sub villages of Mti Ulaya, Lugolola, Lianika and Luang’a mostly the senior residents.


Mgowole thanked the Islamic Foundation for the food support on behalf the village residents, and also the government has already given some maize and some other well wishers they have also brought some support towards the affected residents of famine.


He added a total 80 senior residents received the food aid that he also makes sure that the distribution of food was done accordingly.


The Holy Month of Ramadan is all about fasting and teach Muslims about patience, humanity and spiritually.


During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.