Residents of Gofor town along the Kenama-Zimmi highway about 7.5km from Kenema in the Dama chiefdom are currently suffering from various ailments because of lack of safe drinking water in the town for the past months.
Speaking to Awoko press at Gofor town Musu Kanneh and Mamie Bobor who were carrying two buckets of brown water on their heads which they referred to as ‘KOBUKO’ said it was the only source of water for the community for now.
They also said a hand pump water well is the only one the township has been using for the past 20 years but it has not been functioning for nearly two years. They explained that they walk over one mile into the forest to get the dirty water Musu disclosed that her daughter and herself are now suffering from dysentery for the past two days.
Speaking to the town chief of Gofor Town Bockarie Vandi he about the water crisis confirmed that they are really suffering in terms of water especially clean drinking water. He said the only water well in the town that was dug during the 80s is not functioning because the part have worn out which we can not afford to change it now as we used to do in the past.
The water well was provided by two companies Degremont and F and B and French company both based at river Moa and were responsible for supplying water to Kenema town at that time. He said they have since informed their councilor in their ward councilor Mariatu Kamara about their water crisis. He said they started digging a water well but stopped months ago. Chief Vandi is appealed to SALWACO, the Council and other NGOs to immediately come to their aid to avert disaster in his town.
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