At the Salesian-run Palabek Refugee Resettlement Camp in Uganda, 93,000 refugees are now benefiting from a new high-capacity water tank that can store enough life-saving clean water for the entire community throughout the annual dry season!

This vital project was made possible thanks to the generosity of caring friends like you who support our “Clean Water Initiative.”

The new water tank promises to help ease the pain and suffering endured by the children and adults living at the camp. Most have fled from South Sudan and 60% of the population are under the age of 13. Caring for such a large group of people is a huge endeavor. Having enough clean water for everyone is an even greater challenge.

“Already living in extremely precarious conditions, this population depends on constant access to safe drinking water to meet their basic needs,” explains Father Michael Conway, Director of Salesian Missions. “The lack of sufficient storage capacity weakens the water supply, increasing the risk of water-borne diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. The tank will address this critical need by improving the availability and quality of water distributed in the camp. Once complete, this project will have a structural impact on the daily lives of the refugees.”

The tank is in place but it needs additional essential parts, including new pumps, before it can function at full capacity. The Palabek community remains hopeful that the project will be completed soon. Providing clean, safe water is critical to protecting their health and preventing hardships that arise from a lack of proper sanitation.

Ozele is one of the many residents who will benefit from this project. The young man volunteers much of his time tending to the crops and caring for the farm animals. He enthusiastically shares, “when I saw the installation of the water tank, I was very excited! I thought the tank was enormous and recognized its purpose for water storage. I was happy about this development because it signified an improvement in our water access.”

Ozele’s sentiments are shared by his neighbors – tens of thousands of children and adults who look forward to the joy of clean water and hope for a better future.

Learn more about our work in Uganda.

Our mission is to provide clean water that is essential for the health and well-being of vulnerable children and families in impoverished communities around the world. What’s your mission?