As the world's water experts gathered for the 20th World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, across the globe in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Ger communities who live in tents on the high plains inaugurated a new water supply system installed as part of a community-led area upgrading programme.
The Community Development Council formed by the representatives of residents of 11th Khoroo, Bayankhoshuu area started the construction of a water kiosk connected to the nearest water supply pipeline. The CDC will take charge of the construction with the involvement of skilled and unskilled labourers of the local area.
The Community Led Ger Area Upgrading in Ulaanbaatar City Project is being implemented in partnership between UN-HABITAT, Municipality of Ulaanbaatar, and Ministry of Road, Construction, Transport and Urban Development thanks to a grant from the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Ger communities constitutes nearly 60 percent of the total population of Ulaanbaatar.
Around 2,600 people from 554 households will directly benefit from the kiosk with access to water, 24 hours a day, with reduced distance to water kiosks. Ger areas in Ulaanbaatar have mainly been served by water trucked in and sold at water kiosks. Residents have to walk long distances to fetch water from the nearest water kiosk. Haulage of water is usually the responsibility of children in the Ger communities, with access to 6.7 litres per capita per day.
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