U.S. Government Provides Water and Sanitation Assistance to Ethiopia’s Somali Region

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – On September 15, U.S. Ambassador Donald Yamamoto and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Glenn Anders inaugurated a water system at a ceremony at the Kebridehar town high school.  The water system serves the Korahe Zone in Somali Region.  The water taps were installed by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Samaritian’s Purse.  The Kebridehar town water system, which serves the school and the town’s approximately 10,000 residents, was rehabilitated by the International Rescue Committee as part of a water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions project funded by USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.  In addition to rehabilitating the town water supply, the USAID-funded project is increasing access to safe drinking water in Korahe and Degehabur zones by rehabilitating non-functional boreholes and installing pumps and generators.

Ambassador Yamamoto and USAID/Ethiopia Mission Director Glenn Anders travelled to Somali Region on September 15-16, as part of a U.S. Government delegation that included the top official from the USAID Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, Michael Hess, and USAID Office of Food for Peace Director Jeff Borns.  The group met with regional officials and USAID partners to assess the complex humanitarian situation and analyze the effectiveness of U.S. Government humanitarian assistance in affected areas. 

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