Acute water shortage has gripped a number of villages in Upper River Region, making life unbearable for the villagers.

The affected villages include Sandu Crowo, Mamadi Ceesay, Merto, and Makka-Ceesay.
Local wells cannot satisfy the increasing demand for water in the villages. Apparently, the wells run out of water easily due to high domestic consumption.

According to the natives of Sandu Crowo, cattle rearing has been paralysed, thus threatening livestock farming in the area.

Bakary Tamba, a native of the area, said most of the villages have only one main well, which is not enough to supply the required quantity of water for both the people and the animals.

According to him, the wells have grown old and villagers are forced to tie ropes to horses to draw out water from the wells at depths of more than 200 meters. “Those without horse find it difficult to access water”, he explained.

He lamented that without the animals, it will be even more difficult for them to access water.

Cherno Danso, a herdsman at Sandu Crowo, said water shortage continues to affect their farming.

“Now that we are entering the dry season, we are preparing to migrate with our cattle to the Tambasansang and Dimbandoudou areas in the same region, where water is available,” he told the Daily Observer.

“It is not our wish to leave but we are forced by the situation,” he added.
Musa Ceesay and Alhagie Fatty of the same area, expressed similar concerns.

 Both men appealed to the government, NGOs and humanitarian organisations to come to their rescue.