Water Charity launches a new project in Kombo East District, West Coast Region in The Gambia as part of its Water For Everyone – The Gambia program.
Kombo East is one of the nine districts located in the West Coast Region of The Gambia, south of the Gambia River in the southwest of the country. It lies between Kombo Central and Foni Brefet, covering an area of about 290.9 km² with a population of around 45,000. The district has a population density of 145.5/km² and an annual population change of 4.2%. It is one of the most densely populated districts, which poses challenges related to clean water for the population. As climatic conditions change, some people are migrating in search of arable land, resulting in internal migration that adds to the clean water stress for communities, particularly within the Kombo East district.
For years, Kombo East has been known for charcoal burning and production. However, a Global Forest Watch study revealed that from 2001 to 2022, Kombo East lost 239 hectares of tree cover, resulting in a 17% decrease in tree cover since 2000 and 58.1 kt of CO₂ emissions. This study prompted authorities and various non-governmental stakeholders to take urgent action. Threats to the nation’s forest cover, coupled with the negative impact of climate change and ongoing water challenges, prompted the immediate ban on Charcoal Production in Kombo East. This ban has been effective since October 30th, 2022. It is imperative to take action to address these challenges and protect the environment for future generations. We must work together to find sustainable solutions that will ensure the well-being of the people and the environment in Kombo East, and the rest of The Gambia.
- KAFUTA VILLAGE
GPS: N13°12.176 W016°27.978, Population: 350
New cylinder, conversion head, water tank, dewatering and sanitizing well, 4 stainless steel pipe, rod couplings, concrete slab adjustment, cover steel plate, 4 centralizers, hand washing station, the contractor will construct a new trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
Kafuta is a community located along the south bank road of the Trans-Gambia, approximately 21 km from the regional town of Brikama. It is one of the largest communities within the Kombo East district, with a population of about 5,000 people, mostly from the Mandinaka tribe. Agriculture used to be the main livelihood of people in Kafuta, with farming being their main source of income and sustenance. The community used to enjoy abundant harvests of vegetables and cashew nuts. Unfortunately, the community is now facing significant challenges such as land grabbing, erosion, and other environmental degradation. Additionally, some parts of the community are experiencing severe water shortages. The community has recently expanded, and the influx of refugees from the Cassamance conflict last year has made the water crisis even worse.
- FARABA SUTU VILLAGE
GPS: N13°12.255 W016°29.094, Population: 300
Axle and bearing, 2 stainless steel pipe, concrete slab adjustment, cylinder, hand washing station. The contractor will construct a new trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
This community is situated along the Trans-Gambia south bank road, approximately 3 km west of Kafuta. The community comprises about 800 people, including the Jola and Mandinka tribes. It is famous for its traditional artifacts, especially basket weaving, which is predominantly done by women. The primary source of income for the community is subsistence farming, with crops such as maize, groundnut, and watermelon being the mainstay. However, recently, the community has started growing vegetables for sale in urban markets like Serekunda and Banjul. Unfortunately, the community is facing a severe water shortage, as the current water source is insufficient to cater to its population. Consequently, this has social and economic implications, even at the household level.
- AMDALAI VILLAGE
GPS: N13°12.674 W016°29.513, Population: 600
New cylinder, conversion head, dewatering and sanitizing the well, concrete slab enforcement, plus hand washing station. The contractor will construct a new trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
Amdalai village is situated along the Trans-Gambia south bank road, approximately 14 km away from the regional town of Brikama. It was founded by a World War II veteran named Ousfa Sambou about 65 years ago. After his return from the war in Burma (Myanmar) under the Royal West African Frontier Force, he decided to establish the village, which he named “amdalai” meaning peacefulness. The village now has about 600 inhabitants, most of whom migrated from the hinterland and neighboring countries such as Guinea Bissau and Senegal. The community is one of the most ethnically diverse in the region, with Wollof, Mandinka, Jola, Sarahule, Fula, and Manjago tribes living together peacefully and harmoniously. The community is mainly an agricultural community that grows maize, watermelon, and assorted vegetables. Women also collect traditional wild tea such as Kinkiliba and MborrMborr among others for sale at local markets to earn some income for household activities as well as to send their children to school. However, the community has suffered from water shortage partly due to the migration of people to the community. Furthermore, the refugee crisis caused by the Cassamnance conflict has made the situation worse. The current water source is not sufficient for the community, and this has devastating consequences as people spend ample hours collecting water. This situation has the potential to cause defragmentation to the already existing harmony among the tribes within the community.
- MANDINABA VILLAGE
GPS: N13°16.898 W016°35.479. Population: 400
1 Conversion head, 1 new cylinder, 5 stainless steel pipes, 5 rods, 5 rod couplings, 1 pedestal, 5 centralizers, concrete slab, well topping concrete enforcement, dewatering and sanitizing well, hand washing station, the contractor will construct a new water trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
Mandinaba is a medium-sized village with a population of approximately 2,500 people. It is located on the Trans-Gambia South Bank Road, about 7 kilometers away from the town of Brikama. The community is situated at the junction of the Sility road which leads to the Gambia/Senegal border. Being close to the River Gambia, the land is fertile, enabling farmers to grow food crops to sustain their families and cash crops such as groundnuts and maize. Although the community is large, the available water source is not enough to provide clean drinking water for everyone, making most areas of the village vulnerable to consuming contaminated water which could cause illnesses.
- SANYANGHA VILLAGE
GPS: N13°11.515 W016°26.772, Population: 350
New cylinder, conversion head, 5 stainless steel pipes, extra ground concrete, check-nuts, pedestal, de-watering and sanitizing well, slab adjustment concrete, hand washing station. The contractor will construct a new water trough for the village ruminants to drink from, which will help the community economically
This community is situated approximately 3 kilometers west of Bullock along the Trans-Gambia south bank road. The community is home to around 350 people, and is mostly comprised of the Jola and Manjago tribes. The community primarily engages in subsistence farming, focusing on crops such as groundnuts, watermelon, and palm oil. Additionally, most members of the Manjago tribe are involved in the harvesting of fresh palm wine, which is then sold in local markets. However, the community is currently facing a severe water shortage, particularly in the Manjago areas of the village. This has led to significant hardships for the community.
The funds for this program have been advanced by Water Charity. Your donation using this Donate button will ensure that we have funds available to accomplish this project. Kindly donate using the button.