Tore Women Appeal for Rehabilitation of Broken Boreholes

(TORE PAYAM / YEI COUNTY)- Women in Tore Payam of Yei River County are calling on the government and humanitarian development partners to rehabilitate broken boreholes as the rainy season intensifies in the area.

According to rural women in the Payam, nearly all boreholes have remained non-functional since the outbreak of the conflict in 2016, forcing women and girls to walk long distances in search of clean drinking water from wells and running rivers.

The women say the situation exposes them to risks of human rights abuses, including sexual assault, snake bites and attacks by dangerous wild animals while searching for water.

Speaking to Access Radio on Thursday, Mary Usuwa, a resident of Tore Centre, described the water crisis as a major challenge affecting residents in the area.

“In the whole of Tore Payam, we only have one borehole producing dirty water. We are now in the rainy season and when it rains, the wells are filled with dirty water, putting us at risk of waterborne diseases. We are calling on the government and NGOs to help repair our boreholes and wells in the Payam,” she said.

Another resident, John Mateyo, said women are forced to travel long distances to access clean water, while local water sources become contaminated during the rainy season.

“The situation of water is a big problem for us here. Women travel long distances looking for clean water and the worst part is that when it rains, all the wells and streams become contaminated. People are suffering here,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mama Alice Siyama, chairlady of the Yei County Women Association, decried the hardships facing women in rural parts of the county.

She called on the government and humanitarian organizations to prioritize addressing the water crisis affecting residents of Tore Payam.

“My message to the government and the NGOs is that the people of Tore are suffering and there is need to help them with boreholes. Priority should be given to address this water challenge affecting the people of Tore Payam,” she said.

Access Radio was unable to reach development partners and the county water department for comment on the matter.

Tore Payam is located about 48 miles northwest of Yei. The area also lacks a functional health center.