Date : 11/2006

Country/Region : BURUNDI

Title : Le CICR au Burundi : projets d'alimentation en eau potable = ICRC in Burundi : providing access to drinking water

Duration : 00:13:14

Director : ENGELBRECHT, Nicole

Cameraman : unknown

Editor : unknown

Keyword : CHILD; DAILY LIFE; HEALTH CENTRE; TESTIMONY; NURSE; SCHOOL; WATER AND SANITATION; RIVER; WATER SUPPLY; SANITATION SUPPLIES

Person appearing :
GENERELLI, Corrado (coordinateur Wathab, CICR)

Confidentiality level : public

Publication restrictions : publication without restrictions

Copyright : ICRC

Production company : ICRC

ICRC producer :
none

Description : Like in many developing countries, one of the biggest challenges is the lack of drinking water. The only tap at this primary school in Gatumba, 10 km north of the capital Bujumbura has been out of service for many years. “The water used to come out here”, remembers the school principal Pontien Butoyi. “It served the school and the houses in the neighbourhood. However, during the crisis that shook up our country the tap was destroyed. It does not work anymore and the children have to bring water from home in order to clean the class rooms.” For most children and their mothers fetching water means walking long distances and standing in line at one of the few fountains available. The entire city of Gatumba with an estimated population of 40.000 people has only one fountain that functions around the clock. A few others provide water in the late evening hours. The authorities attribute the lack of water in the distribution system to the rapid growth of the population since the outbreak of the conflict in 1993. The only solution for many families is the nearby Ruzizi River, a permanent source of water. The river originates in Rwanda and runs through Burundi to Lake Tanganyika. In spite of the obvious health risks, women use the water for cooking and consumption. However, even boiling this water does not make it drinkable, explains Corrado Generelli, a water engineer from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). As a humanitarian organisation that protects and assists people in conflict areas the ICRC has been present in Burundi since 1999. Its assistance programmes include efforts to improve access to water and sanitation facilities. In Gatumba the organization rehabilitates the water supply system. That includes the drilling of two boreholes, the construction of a pumping station and a storage tank. Over 20 tap stands will be repaired and a pipe will be laid. The ICRC expects the work to be finished during the first semester of 2007. The entire population of Gatumba will have access to drinkable water.
As a humanitarian organisation that protects and assists people in conflict areas the ICRC has been present in Burundi since 1999. Its assistance programmes include efforts to improve access to water and sanitation facilities. In Gatumba the organization rehabilitates the water supply system. That includes the drilling of two boreholes, the construction of a pumping station and a storage tank. Over 20 tap stands will be repaired and a pipe will be laid. The ICRC expects the work to be finished during the first semester of 2007. The entire population of Gatumba will have access to drinkable water.

Original language : English; French

Other language : International soundtrack

French title : Le CICR au Burundi : projets d'alimentation en eau potable

English title : ICRC in Burundi : providing access to drinking water

Colour/B&W : colour

Original material/format : DVD-R

Best material/format available : DVCam