In Focus

Juni of Cangkeh in Sibaruas village is a mother of two young adults and two younger children. The family of six lives in a hamlet where the access of water is a river 200 meters away downhill from their house. Juni and her neighbors could only fetch water in the river during dry season. The swelling river during rainy season prompts the villagers to gather rain water at home. Using simple sand filtering, they managed to obtain clean water free from large contaminants.

Juni of Cangkeh, Sibaruas Village, happy to get access to clean water
(Juni of Cangkeh, Sibaruas Village, happy to get access to clean water)

When the earthquake struck her village, she could not get water from the river as the water turned blackish for three consecutive days. Juni and the family had to resort to buying bottled water from surviving small shops in her neighborhood.
 
Ten days after the earthquake hit, CWS paid a visit to Cangkeh and installed a pillow tank and a tap station, which has enabled the disaster-affected community to instantly fetch clean water, saving them from two hours trip to the river downhill.
 
“We were so happy! The children shouted in excitement.. Hooray, now we have water!” Her voice exudes a happier mood.
 
Juni did not dare to assume the future of her family as they have lost everything they had. Earning a meager USD 5 per day from selling vegetables, in a hushed voice she said, “despite all of my troubles, my life must go on.”
 
Church World Service continues distributing clean water to the people in eight villages in Sungai Limau sub-district. A total of 12,000 liters of water has reached 10,520 individuals in three villages, while another 70 households have received 700 liters of water bags.
 
Water trucking was conducted in three villages in Sungai Limau sub-district, where the pillow tanks are located. A total of 12,000 liters of water has been distributed in Pasir Baru, Sibaruas, and Duku villages. In addition, CWS in coordination with French Army, has distributed 700 water bags to 70 households in Pinjauwan, a village not accessible by vehicle.