During this time of year in Darfur, the air is tense with anticipation.
The desert is devoid of all plants, shrubs and other greenery. Families plant what seed they have leftover from the previous year – if any. Many families have to eat the seeds to get through the year.
Now they wait for the rains to come – hopefully July.
Whilst rain will bring fresh hope for a successful and bountiful harvest there is the threat that too much rain may come and wash away the seeds and even their homes and livestock – flooding is a real threat. When houses are made of straw they stand little chance of survival when the rain is torrential as happened last year.
It is during this time that our water pumps are vital to the people in Darfur, despite the hot dry summer they still have access to fresh clean water from below ground.
In the awful event of flooding – our water pumps are more important than ever – despite water being everywhere, floodwaters will be contaminated and unsafe to drink or even wash in.
Because of your support, communities have a water supply they can rely on. Parents do not have to worry about giving their children dirty water to drink, risking sickness and disease.
With inflation still soaring the cost of drilling for water is at an all-time high but there are still hundreds of villages that do not have access to clean water.
Many women and children are spending their days trekking through the scorching desert to fetch enough water for their families. For some, the walk is 20 miles. It is hard to contemplate.
We are so grateful for everything you have helped us achieve these past 20 years but there is still so much more to be done.
Can we rely on your support to help more families in need? Water is the key to life.