In response to a devastating cholera outbreak in South Sudan that has claimed over 465 lives since October, the humanitarian organization Concern Worldwide is deploying renewable energy technology to deliver life-saving clean water. With funding from UNICEF, the initiative in Rubkona County has already brought safe drinking water to nearly 32,000 people, demonstrating the critical role of solar power in public health emergencies.
A Nation Under Siege: Empowering Communities: Solar Water Systems Tackle Cholera
South Sudan’s Ministry of Health officially declared a cholera outbreak on October 28, 2024, originating in Renk near the Sudan border, where conflict has intensified a pre-existing epidemic. The crisis is compounded by severe nationwide challenges. Only 41% of the population has access to basic drinking water, and recent flooding has displaced communities and overwhelmed sanitation infrastructure, creating ideal conditions for the waterborne disease to spread. By late November, 550 suspected cases had been recorded across the country, hitting areas like Malakal and the capital, Juba, particularly hard.
Harnessing Empowering Communities: Solar Water Systems Tackle Cholera for Clean Water
To break the cycle of contamination, Concern Worldwide has constructed two new solar water systems and rehabilitated four additional water pumps. These installations are comprehensive, featuring boreholes drilled 115 meters deep to tap into safe aquifers, well below any surface contamination. Khurshid Wisal, Concern’s programme manager who oversaw the construction, noted that engineers coordinated with local authorities to select sites free from hydrocarbon contamination in the oil-rich region.
The solar-powered water infrastructure uses photovoltaic panels to run pumps that feed elevated storage tanks, providing a consistent supply of clean water through taps and ensuring proper drainage. This intervention has transformed daily life for residents who previously relied on stagnant, unsafe water sources.
A Lifeline for Empowering Communities: Solar Water Systems Tackle Cholera
The impact of this clean energy solution is palpable. Nyagai Mut Bilroal, a local community leader, described the previous struggle: “Life was very difficult because everyone was getting dirty water, but because of this new water system, our lives have improved.” Her testimony highlights the direct link between access to clean water and community well-being.
Wisal emphasized the project’s broader significance, stating, “Safe water is critical to preventing outbreaks and improving the overall health of communities.” He expressed hope that with additional funding, Concern can expand its efforts and build more solar-powered water projects in other cholera-affected locations.
As South Sudan navigates overlapping crises of conflict, displacement, and climate-related disasters, these projects serve as a powerful example of how sustainable water solutions in crisis-hit regions can build resilience, save lives, and pave the way for long-term recovery.
Sources
- Adherence to solar disinfection water treatment reduces …
- Cholera in Sub-Saharan Africa: Unveiling neglected drivers …
- Solar Powered Mobile Water Treatment Systems Deployed …
- Solar water systems built by Concern preventing spread of …
- Promoting Effluent Pasteurization for Cholera Prevention in …
- Potential of solar water disinfection (SODIS) for pathogen …
- Zambia: Changing lives and fighting cholera one clean …
- Alight responds to worsening cholera crisis in Sudan
- Donors making a difference: cholera
