Rehabilitation of Angarghoon drinking water supply inaugurated in Chitral will benefit over 80,000 people
ISLAMABAD – After restoration, the new safe drinking water supply will benefit over 80,000 people in Chitral Town and the neighbouring villages.
Rehabilitation of the Angarghoon drinking water supply – the largest and the only source for safe drinking water in the area – was inaugurated in Chitral today by Deputy Commissioner Chitral, Osama Ahmed Warraich and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Pakistan, Angela Kearney.
“People in this region have suffered greatly due to recurrent natural calamities. The district authorities are trying their utmost to rehabilitate the affected population but support from the humanitarian community is invaluable and most welcome” said Deputy Commissioner Chitral, Osama Ahmed Warraich.
Speaking on the occasion, Warraich said that the district government is grateful to UNICEF and DFID for their generous support in restoring this water scheme which is the main source of safe drinking water for the people of Chitral.
With an estimated cost of US$223,000, rehabilitation of the Angarghoon water supply scheme is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) United Kingdom.
UNICEF has proactively restored 20 drinking water schemes in Chitral district and another 21 in Shangla district, within months of the floods and the earthquake that struck the region in 2015. These schemes have been restored on the principle of ‘Build Back Better’ incorporating the elements of Disaster Risk Reduction to help communities be better prepared for a disaster and minimise its effects.
“Recurrent natural disasters in Chitral during the last few months have made it evident that climate change is having an adverse effect on this region,” said Ms. Angela Kearney, UNICEF Representative. “Restoration of the Angarghoon water scheme is a testimony to the fact that we are mindful of the most basic need, clean and safe drinking water, for the people of Chitral. Lack of safe drinking water in the aftermath of a disaster could lead to the spread of waterborne diseases especially among children and that is a situation we wish to prevent.”
UNICEF Representative further said that: “UNICEF is grateful to the Provincial Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the District Administration of Chitral and DFID for its generous support not only for this particular water scheme but also for their overall support to our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene emergency response after the floods and the earthquake in Chitral.”