IOM, Japan build solar-powered water supply network for 30,000 Rohingyas
One of the world’s largest humanitarian solar water systems was officially inaugurated on Wednesday by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and partner the Japan International Development Agency (JICA), reports UNB.
The network will provide safe, clean water to approximately 30,000 people living in the Kutupalong Mega-Camp from a deep underground well.
This network is the largest and most cost-effective system in the camps, and is the result of positive collaboration between JICA, the Bangladeshi government, the United States and IOM.
Generous funding came from the government of the United States and the government of Japan.
Local Government Division (LGD) Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed inaugurated the water supply network at Camp-12.
Helal Uddin Ahmed said: “This network will go a long way in meeting the needs of the community and is a great example of cooperation between the agencies.”
The Japan Embassy’s Minister Takeshi Ito, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammed Abul Kalam, IOM Chief of Mission in Bangladesh Giorgi Gigauri, Cox’s Bazar’s Deputy Commissioner Md Kamal Hossain, Department of Public Health Engineering’s Chief Engineer Md. Saifur Rahman and JICA Bangladesh Office’s Chief Representative Hitoshi Hirata were present.
Japan Embassy’s Minister Takeshi Ito said: “I would like to commend the people of Bangladesh who have accepted more than 700,000 displaced people ... we’re now providing safe water for 300,000 people and it’ll contribute to realisation of Sustainable Development Goal Number Six: ‘Clean Water and Sanitation for all.’”
RRRC Mohammed Abul Kalam said: “This water network is the biggest, most cost-effective system in the refugee camps. It is an outstanding example of collaboration as well, and I commend that.”
The water comes from a deep borehole carefully tested to measure sustainability over the long term.
The system takes full advantage of the area’s tremendous solar energy potential and is powered by almost 200 panels, providing enough electricity to pump over 580,000 litres of water daily.
The water storage reservoir is made up of six large 95,000 litre tanks, capable of supplying the population for over 24 hours in emergencies.
Importantly, the system includes a disinfection plant, which will chlorinate the water to prevent household-level contamination.
Almost 10 kilometres of pipeline was installed for this network, supplying 358 taps through 87 tap stands.
IOM’s Chief of Mission Giorgi Gigauri said: “This system stands as an international example; not just for its capacity; but because of the impressive collaboration between partners, countries and people.”
“In addition to addressing the immediate needs of the local community, we look forward to working with Rohingya volunteers and host community technicians to localise this system and ensure its sustainability well into the future,” he said.
