Hossen Sohel of DOT
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners have been turning to green and non-polluting technology, including solar power, to help provide safe and clean water to Rohingyas living in the crowded settlements in Cox’s Bazar district, reports UNB.
Over the past
six months, five new safe water networks funded by UNHCR have been completed in the Kutapalong-Balukhali refugee site that are fully powered by solar energy, said UNHCR on Friday.
The five new water networks- jointly completed by UNHCR, MSF, OXFAM and BRAC –are currently providing safe water to over 40,000 refugees.
A further 55,000 Rohingyas will benefit as UNHCR and its partner agencies are hoping to install nine more solar-powered water networks across Kutupalong refugee camp this year, at a cost of US$10 million.
“The improved water networks are completely solar powered in order to reduce energy costs and fuel emissions”, said Murray Wilson, head of UNHCR’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes in Cox’s Bazar.
Chlorination is a life-saver in refugee settings as recent tests revealed that most contamination to drinking water occurs during collection, transport and storage at the household level.
“Chlorinating water helps in maintaining safe water and eliminates any risk of spread of disease”, he added.
“Previous water sources, mainly boreholes fitted with hand pumps were often highly contaminated by waste water penetrating the aquifer from which the wells drew water”.
Solar panels generate enough energy to produce electricity to run motorized water pumps. The pumping system draws water from newly-installed 70,000 litre chlorinated water tanks. Water is then pumped to tap stands installed close to refugee households.
The aim is to provide 20 litres of potable water to every refugee daily for drinking and cooking.
More than 900,000 Rohingya refugees are living across 36 different locations in Bangladesh.
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