During Lent in 2021, thousands of you donated, prayed and raised sponsorship for our Family Fast Day Appeal, inspired by the story of Abdella, who lived in Afar, in northern Ethiopia.
Four years ago, Abdella was 23 years old, and was walking for ten hours every day to collect safe water for himself and his two young cousins.
Abdella felt this daily task was wasting his life. He wanted the time to start a family and a business. And a solar powered water pump, funded by your donations, was the plan to make Abdella’s dreams into reality.
Ibrahim, who lived in a remote community in the same region as Abdella, told us back in 2021 of his happiness and relief when a pump was installed in his village.
The outbreak of conflict
However, this plan had to change when violence broke out in northern Ethiopia, soon after Lent 2021.
The Catholic diocese that was to install the water pumps had to suspend their work – many people moved away to flee the violence, and contact with communities in Afar became very difficult.
Adapting plans
Throughout the conflict, which has created an ongoing crisis in northern Ethiopia, our neighbours have continued to need safe water sources near their homes.
We have been in touch with Abdella to confirm he is safe and well, but although the diocese has been able to restart some of its work, this is not yet back up and running in the area of Afar where Abdella and his family continue to live.
However, elsewhere in northern Ethiopia, your donations are helping to provide safe and sustainable water, as well as emergency cash, to other communities who have been affected by the fighting.
We pray for peace and stability in the region.
How you can continue to help
This Family Fast Day, we are telling Waré’s story – a young mum who also has to walk hours each day to find safe water for her family.
Waré has helped to build a water tank in her village with the help of your donations and Abbiott, a local water expert. When the rains come, she will have water close to her home.
Your donation this Harvest means that you can help more of our neighbours get safe water for their families. And you can trust our local partners to adapt plans to get them the practical help they need in times of conflict.