China-backed Project Enhances Drinking Water Access in Southern Chad

Communities in southern Chad's Mandoul and Salamat provinces now have improved access to potable water thanks to a project supported by China. For years, residents faced the daily burden of long treks to find water, which was frequently not safe for consumption. Robgué Ozias, a resident of Koumra, recounted the arduous journey his family and neighbors endured, traveling four kilometers daily to fetch water, a hardship passed down through generations.

Chinese engineers arrived in late October 2024, and the China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co., Ltd. (CJIC) began drilling operations. The initiative has since established over 500 boreholes equipped with manual pumps. This intervention marks a significant shift from the previous reality, where water scarcity and the effort required to obtain it dominated daily life, particularly during the dry season.

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In the past, during every dry season, each family had to send at least one able-bodied person to travel four kilometers to fetch water. Our ancestors endured this ordeal generation after generation.