IOM, US help locals of Kumbal

ABOUT 10,000 persons in six council wards in North Waghi in Jiwaka and neighbouring wards in Chimbu’s Kerowagi will have access to clean water, thanks to the United States Agency for International Development Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID-BHA) and theInternational Organisation for Migration (IMO).
USAID and IOM presented the Kumbal community living along the border of Jiwaka and Chimbu with rainwater catchment installation materials recently.
These materials were funded by USAID-BHA.
According to a joint statement from the two organisation, Kumbal community members thanked them because water accessibility was the main problem in the area over the past years.
“With the population in the area, the accessibility of water has been an issue, especially for women, children, and the elderly, which has resulted in the collection of drinking water from the muddy Waghi River and nearby creeks,” the organisations said.
“IOM’s interventions will alleviate water scarcity, and provide quality water, which is very much needed by these communities.”
Jiwaka disaster coordinator John Kupul acknowledged USAID’s funding assistance, and thanked IOM for being an active partner working closely with his provincial administration to improve the resilience of local communities.
“All thanks to the people of the United States, through USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, for this critical assistance to improve community access to safe drinking water,” Kupul said.
Kumbal ward two councillor Kambiye Tolak said: “This has been a need for the people of Kumbal.”