Thousands of residents in South Sudan are set to benefit from improved access to clean drinking water after the Turkey Diyanet Foundation completed a solar-powered borehole in Kwerjik, on the outskirts of the capital, Juba.
The facility, equipped with an automatic pumping system and two water tanks, can supply approximately 4,000 litres of water daily.
Residents have long relied on a nearby stream, which becomes increasingly contaminated during the dry season, exposing communities to waterborne diseases.
Osman Turk, the foundation’s representative for Africa, said the project reflected Turkey’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities in South Sudan.
“Water is essential for survival, and we are determined to support our sisters and brothers,” he said at the inauguration ceremony.
Local resident Mary Sebila welcomed the project, saying families had previously depended on dirty stream water, particularly when water levels dropped.
Community chief Machar Butic said an earlier water pump had broken down, forcing residents to return to unsafe water sources. He called for additional assistance to meet the needs of thousands of people in Kwerjik and neighbouring communities.
Local representatives also urged aid organisations to expand water infrastructure, warning that schoolchildren often travel long distances to collect drinking water.
