The new system will provide reliable water to an estimated seventy-seven-thousand residents, addressing shortages caused by years of conflict and unreliable power supply. Communications Coordinator for the ICRC in Ethiopia,  Steven Anderson says the deal was a few years in the making

“For the people it was almost impossible to have access to proper, reliable access to water, so with the authorities, over three years ago, it was decided that the ICRC would help in installing a water system that is basically functioning on solar energy because the power supply was the main problem that were having with this function. We had good support, notably from the German government, who financed this project at 50%. After intense work, we were able to inaugurate this new system this week,” he said.