Aid Sudan

It’s easy to take basic necessities for granted, especially when you never even have to think about them. In contrast, thinking about basic necessities consumes most of the day in South Sudan. Take water, for example. Water from the river spreads disease and to get clean water, many women have to walk for hours to access a well.

This everyday hardship is one that Aid Sudan seeks to relieve in villages, and it’s a passion we share with many organizations in Africa. Working with partners and generous donors, we are excited to announce that there are four new wells in South Sudan.

The people in the village of Tim Thok had been drinking water from a 25-foot deep bore hole dug by hand. Because the water was dirty, many people became sick, and some even died from diarrhea. One night while Uganda staff member Bob Livingston was speaking at Crossroads Baptist Church in The Woodlands, the church decided to take action. Now, this village has a well.

Clean water was a huge issue for the people in Tonj. As many defectors from the North settled in this area, there was a limited supply and fights often broke out as villagers struggled to get their share of water. Now, this village has a well and it is our hope that the well will not only quench thirst, but also bring peace.

The people in the village of Mapel had a hard time getting water due to the nature of the ground. It’s made of solid rock, making it very difficult to drill a water well. The first attempt to drill a well yielded a dry hole, and for the second attempt, the team chose a place closer to town. Now, this village has a well and a plentiful supply of clean water.

The village of Agur in the Luo area is very remote, and in turn, there had never been a well drilled here. Each year during the dry season, the community had to move in order to access water. Now, this village has its first well and can remain in their home area throughout the year.

Working with In Deed & Truth Ministries, the villages of Tim Thok, Tonj, Mapel and Agur were selected based on their immense need for water. Construction took place over a two-week period in November, which included moving a drilling rig into the area (not an easy task in South Sudan) and drilling 50-70 meters below the surface until water was found. During that moment in each village, the water shot up like a geyser and all the people watching cheered as if the drill had struck gold. For the South Sudanese people in these villages, clean water is not an expectation, but a gift for which they are immensely grateful.