Society Inaugurates 23 Million Birr Rural Water Supply Project Benefiting Over 15,000 Households in Tembaro
The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), in partnership with the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), has inaugurated a major rural water supply project in Bada, Bohe, Bachira, and Waro kebeles of Tembaro Special Woreda under the Ethiopia Crisis to Resilience (EC2R) project.
Implemented with a total investment of 23 million birr, the project includes the construction of two 50 cubic meter water reservoirs, two pressure break-tank structures, a protected spring development, 13 water points, and a 22-kilometer main and distribution pipeline network. As a result, more than 15,000 households now have access to safe, reliable, and nearby clean drinking water.
For years, communities in the area, especially women and children, were forced to walk long distances to fetch water, exposing residents to water-borne diseases and causing children to miss school. The new system is expected to significantly improve health, education, and overall livelihoods.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Mr. Dires Desyibelew, Deputy Secretary General of ERCS, emphasized that access to clean water is a basic human right and a foundation for sustainable development. “Water is life,” he noted, adding that the Society has served communities impartially for 90 years and currently reaches nearly four million people annually. He also underscored that water infrastructure can only remain sustainable through strong community ownership and proper maintenance.
Dr. Mohamed Nurye, Vice President of Central Ethiopia Regional State, Infrastructure Cluster Coordinator, and Head of the Road and Transport Bureau, described water as one of the region’s most critical challenges and expressed gratitude to ERCS, noting that the project brings not only water, but also health, rest, and hope for children and families.
Engineer Habtamu Belayneh, Tembaro Special Woreda Administrator, stated that the project has resolved a long-standing problem that previously forced residents to travel far for water, affecting education and daily life. He urged the community to ensure proper maintenance so that the investment will not be lost.
Echoing similar sentiments, Ato Melese Zewge, Chairman of the ERCS Central Ethiopia Regional Branch Board, encouraged the community to support the Society by becoming members and strengthening its capacity to continue humanitarian services.
Ato Tesfaye Yakob, Head of the Woreda Water Office, also expressed confidence in the sustainability of the new system and called on beneficiaries to build upon the development achieved.
The project stands as a strong example of partnership and community-centered resilience, bringing safe water, dignity, and renewed hope to thousands of families in Tembaro Special Woreda
