Qararo, Somalia – In a historic development for the rural village of Qararo, residents are set to receive their first-ever community-owned borehole, ending years of chronic water shortages.
The project is part of a broader initiative led by Somalia’s Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and funded by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).
The borehole in Qararo is one of 10 being drilled across Somalia under this multi-agency effort aimed at enhancing climate resilience and improving access to safe and sustainable water sources in remote and underserved areas.
For decades, Qararo’s residents have relied on seasonal water pans and long treks to fetch water from distant and often unreliable sources. Community leaders hailed the new borehole as a “life-changing development” that will support domestic use, livestock rearing, and local farming.
“This borehole brings dignity and hope to our people. For the first time, our children will grow up without the burden of walking miles for water,” said one of the village elders.
According to MoEWR officials, the initiative is aligned with Somalia’s National Water Strategy, which prioritizes long-term solutions to address water insecurity exacerbated by recurrent droughts and climate change.
The UNDP Resident Representative to Somalia emphasized that community ownership is key to ensuring sustainability.
“By empowering locals to manage and maintain the boreholes, we are helping to secure not just water but the future of these communities,” the representative noted.
The Saudi Fund for Development, a long-standing development partner to Somalia, reiterated its commitment to supporting vital infrastructure that promotes self-reliance and stability.
As drilling operations progress in Qararo and other selected sites, the project stands as a powerful example of what coordinated investment, local leadership, and international solidarity can achieve in the face of longstanding challenges.