Water for the Civilian Population

Released Date: 25/08/2006


For many families in the Afghan capital, the 25th July of this year was a particularly important day - a day bringing hope of a future with less hardship and deprivation. A new drinking water well was opened in the centre of one of Kabul's poorest districts. As part of a CIMIC (Civilian Military Co-operation) project, Ecolog in collaboration with the French army provided financial support for the construction of the urgently needed well and thereby contributed to easing significantly the lives of a population suffering desperately from the lack of water supply.

"Coming from a country where all you have to do is turn on the tap, it is impossible to imagine the difficulties people here have in just collecting their daily water ration," says Kirsten Hagmann, Contracting Manager for Ecolog, who was present at the inauguration of the well. Some 2,000 people were forced, day in day out, to travel more than two kilometres - generally on foot - to obtain essential water supplies. The fact that they sometimes had to pay for the water increased the pressure on them still further. With the opening of the well, they no longer have to make the long trek and everyone has access to water free of charge.

The partners in the project, Ecolog and the French army, knew from the outset that there could be difficulties along the way. The rocky, dry ground through which they had to dig - typical of Afghanistan - posed particular problems for the team. Thanks to the right technology and machinery, however, they succeeded in laying the pipes and installing the pump. "We saw it as our duty to support CIMIC projects. By sponsoring the well, Ecolog was able to help a large number of poor people obtain access to the most essential of all supplies. I am proud to work for a company that makes such things possible. For Afghanistan, acts of this sort are like small miracles - miracles which this country richly deserves," Kirsten Hagmann says in explanation of Ecolog's commitment.

By sponsoring projects such as that in Kabul, Ecolog is sending out a message. The company will continue to be involved in helping the civilian population. Wherever war is being or has been waged, infrastructure improvements are an effective way of making people's daily lives that little bit more bearable.