Drops of Live
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Amid the war that engulfed Sudan, residents of the city of Nyala faced a severe water shortage, threatening their daily lives. The effects of the war caused significant damage to water infrastructure, significantly reducing access to this basic need. To make matters worse, many water tanker trucks were looted, and some owners of animal-driven water carts lost their livestock to thirst or hunger, further exacerbating the water crisis. Residents had to rely on purchasing water at exorbitant prices despite the difficult economic conditions, making access to clean water even more challenging. As the crisis worsened, local initiatives with Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) played a crucial role in mitigating the disaster.
“Whenever we receive even a small amount of funding—
sometimes as little as 5,000 USD—we immediately arrange
with truck owners to ensure water reaches those who need
it most. We know that many families depend on these few
drops for survival.”
However, these projects relied on sporadic grants, which were not enough to solve the problem in a sustainable way.
This led the emergency response team to think of a long-term solution: rehabilitating the Nyala Water Authority›s main station, a project not typically taken on by small mutual aid groups The idea began to take shape when the ERR’s program office visited the main water station with engineers and specialists to assess the damage caused by the war. It became evident that the station had suffered extensive destruction, as all electrical wiring was stolen, and some infrastructure was destroyed due to heavy clashes involving artillery shells and heavy weapons.
The station was also looted from the inside, making its rehabilitation a significant undertaking. The project did not proceed smoothly, as some young ERR volunteers were arrested by the de facto government.
After the volunteers were released, they returned to the headquarters of the Nyala Water Authority to relaunch the rehabilitation project for the main water station, which consisted of two substations, Museh and Al-Wadi. In their initial plans, the ERRs intended to repair Al-Wadi substation, however, during their detainment the Water Authority worked with Medecins San Frontieres to complete the work. Normally, this would further delay the work of aid organization, but the ERRs were able to quickly realign their priorities and focus instead on the second substation at Museh, which contained five wells.
When the engineering teams arrived at Museh Station, they were met with a devastating scene, where one of the wells was completely out of service, washed away by the valley floods, while the other four wells were severely damaged, as the station lost more than 6,000 meters of electrical wires, in addition to the transformers, switchboards, and generators were either destroyed or missing, leaving the station completely inoperative.
Despite the difficult circumstances, the volunteers did not back down from the challenge. They began rehabilitating the station, working side by side with the specialized engineers and technicians of the authority, with their efforts continuing for four consecutive months. The work was arduous, but their determination never wavered. The project was carried out in sequential phases, starting with cleaning the station and removing debris, followed by transporting new wires from the main station to Museh and installing them along a stretch of 6,000 meters by hand. The volunteers exerted tremendous effort without any financial compensation, driven solely by their belief that access to clean water is a fundamental right for all. Moreover, the local community played a critical role in supporting these efforts by providing free transportation, assisting with wire installation, and offering discounts on equipment prices, which helped ease the financial burden on the teams and accelerated the pace of completion.
One volunteer reflected on the experience:
” This experience changed me completely. It made me stronger and more adaptable. Before the war, I often felt hopeless and stuck in my own thoughts, but thanks to the ERR, I now see life differently.”
This transformation was not limited to individuals; it spread throughout the entire community, as one of the volunteers said:
“The people in these Emergency Response Rooms have become stronger because of the hardships they’ve faced. Whatever your goal in life, never give up. If you›re serving your community, and the people of Nyala you›re on the right path.”
Restoring the water station was not just about infrastructure; it was a fight for survival. One woman shared her hardship:
“One of the hardest struggles for Nyala residents has been access to water.Since the war began, I’ve had to walk long distances—even under heavy shelling and explosions—just to find someone with a water tanker willing to sell me water at outrageous prices. I had no choice but to buy it, despite our limited income. Even the water truck drivers risked their lives daily to transport water across conflict zones. The man driving the water truck is risking his life just to earn a living and feed his family. “
Despite these challenges, the community refused to back down.
“The idea of rehabilitating the water station was one of
the most impactful initiatives for me. It helped us save the
money we were spending daily on water, and it brought joy
back to our lives.”
Finally, after strenuous efforts, the ERR team successfully restored the station, bringing new hope to the residents who had long suffered from thirst. The total cost of the reactivation was 25,000 USD to restore water supply to 50% of the normal operations. This water station services approximately 70% of the city’s population.
The moment the first drop of water flowed back into the city›s pipelines was unforgettable.
One volunteer described the emotional moment:
“I will never forget that moment. When the children saw water running through the streets, they screamed with joy, shouting: ‘The water is back! …The water is back!’ It was a truly incredible scene.”
With this dedicated spirit, the emergency room volunteers were able to make a real difference in Nyala, where it was not just about fixing a water station, but restoring life and hope to the hearts of the people, despite all the obstacles and dangers they faced.
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