Brussels, 16 February 1995

SPOKESMAN'S SERVICE

Over a million victims of the conflict in Somalia should get clean water soon thanks to a project the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) is co-funding in the East African country's capital, Mogadishu.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is managing a project which managers say is vital to prevent another cholera epidemic in the city. The disease last broke out in Mogadishu in April 1994. The six-month project involves rehabilitating and running a water pumping and purifying station at Afgoi. ECHO has earmarked a contribution of 700,000 Ecu for the work.

The station at Agfoi serves well over half the population of the city directly, and all of it indirectly. Many people come into South Mogadishu with donkey carts to get their supplies of drinking water for the north.

United Nations Operations in Somalia (UNOSOM) are co-funding the operation, and will provide fuel for the pumping station. ECHO's contribution will be spent on hiring local staff, on spare parts, and on communication equipment.