Drinking water distribution network for a refugees camp
During our various projects in Ethiopia, we have always been struck by the difficulty of access to drinking water for tribal populations. We have therefore decided to focus on this sector for this new project.
On the border between Ethiopia and Kenya , this semi-arid region is home to the Dassanesh tribe. The Omo River , which flows into Lake Turkana, has undergone major changes in recent years, however, as a series of dams have been built upstream in the region. These hydroelectric works are now causing disruptions to the river's natural flow regime and now cause uncontrollable floods each year that ravage the communities' villages , their livestock and existing infrastructure.
Adding to this already precarious situation, the semi-arid region that we support through our actions is notably the place of prolonged droughts . There is therefore a major water stress that we wish to moderate through a drinking water distribution network that we propose to create with this project.
The Dassanesh populations targeted by this project are the communities displaced by the floods and now refugees in the camps called Kelem and Meremerete. With respectively 12,000 and 16'000 displaced people, the camps in question are located approximately 15 kilometers from Omoraté , the reference village of the Dassanesh tribe.
Project progress
October 2025
Collaboration with UNICEF
Following USAID's withdrawal from the region after the US announcements, we are taking over their water distribution network project for another camp for displaced persons (Meremerete camp, which faces a similar problem), in collaboration with UNICEF. The well has already been drilled, and the water quality and flow rate have been analyzed. For Equity will finance the solar infrastructure and the submersible pump, while UNICEF will finance the reservoir and the water points. A water distribution network will be constructed at a later stage.
May 2025
Implementation of a temporary system
Following discussions with our partner NGO on this project after negative water test results, we implemented a pump and filtration system to connect the flooded areas to the displaced persons camp using expandable pipes. This system involves both physical filtration and chemical disinfection. This temporary system provides the camp's residents with access to drinking water while a long-term solution is being developed.
March 2025
Analysis results
After analysis by Arba Minch University, the water found was unfortunately found to be too salty and alkaline, making it unfit for consumption. This is likely due to saltwater infiltration from Lake Turkana. We are currently investigating a solution to still provide these communities with safe drinking water.
February 2025
Drilling
In partnership with a Kenyan NGO, drilling machines arrived and were able to drill. Water was found at the expected depth, and water quality tests are currently underway to check for heavy metals or other contaminants that could make the water unfit for consumption.
January 2025
Field confirmation
Present on site to monitor the project during this critical phase of drilling, 2 members of For Equity conducted field studies with the hydrogeologists on site. In particular, they carried out electrical conductivity tests to confirm the presence of water at the selected point as well as determine the depth of the drilling to be carried out.
Fall 2024
Hydrogeological analysis
Although arid, this site is located in an alluvial zone. We have therefore refined the position and the exact depth of the renewable water table thanks to the support of the company RTI Exploration, a specialist in the remote detection of the latter.
Summer 2024
Birth of the project
On a mission to Ethiopia in April 2024 to inaugurate the operating theatre in Omorate and define future projects, For Equity members witnessed the difficulty of accessing water in the region. It was therefore decided that the 2024 project would be the construction of a drinking water distribution network for a refugee camp.
