Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar Charity (QC), in collaboration with UNICEF, has successfully implemented water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions in the Rajanpur district of Pakistan’s Punjab province. These initiatives have benefited more than 55,000 people who were affected by devastating floods in the country in 2022.
QC has been actively involved in multiple projects aimed at helping flood-affected districts in Pakistan. The recent WASH projects in Rajanpur included the installation of 25 solar water pumps to serve 30,000 people, the construction of 10 water ponds benefiting nearly 20,000 individuals, and the provision of toilets for 500 families.
These projects are designed to ensure sustainable WASH services for vulnerable communities, reducing the risk of infectious diseases. The beneficiaries have expressed their appreciation for these initiatives, highlighting the positive impact on their lives.
Zeewar Mai, one of the beneficiaries, explained, “Due to the floods, all the clean water sources close to us were badly affected and damaged. We had to travel almost a mile to collect water to meet our drinking needs. Qatar Charity and UNICEF have constructed solar water pumps in my village. Now, it is easy for me to fetch water any time during the day.”
Aziz Khan, another beneficiary, said, “I have 9 children including 5 daughters. The toilets were damaged due to the flash floods. I am very grateful to Qatar Charity for extending timely support to us.”
Abdul Rauf, community development officer at the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) in Rajanpur, commented, “The clean water sources were damaged due to the 2022 floods. As a result, people had to drink contaminated water at any cost for their living which caused water-borne diseases like diarrhea and dysentery. I am proud to mention that Qatar Charity and UNICEF were the first organisations who constructed the water sources in the area to provide clean drinking water.”
