Ethiopia is one of the five poorest countries in the world, with 4 out of every 5 people living on less than $2 a day. Access to safe drinking water in Ethiopia is at a critically low level. Waterborne diseases claim the lives of hundreds of thousands of people each year. 1 Ethiopian child in 10 dies before their fifth birthday; half of those perish from diarrhea.
Surge worked with local partners to build a hand dug fresh water well in the Tigray region in Ethiopia. One freshwater well gives a community of 250 people clean, safe drinking water for 20 years.
Hand-dug wells are possible in areas with a high water table. The opening takes 1-3 months to dig, and the entire community usually participates. Because of the free labor force within the villages, hand-dug wells are the most cost-effective and are implemented whenever possible.
