EL NIÑO has worsened water shortages in Natawarau, Ba, forcing villagers to rely on a nearby creek for their daily washing and bathing needs.
At about 10am yesterday, women from the village were seen washing clothes in the creek, using stones to beat the garments clean before rinsing them in buckets.
Speaking to this newspaper, villager Ulamila Savui said the water shortage was a longstanding problem that dated back generations and had worsened during the prolonged dry spell.
“We have been without water for a long time, even when our elders were still alive,” she said.
“This problem did not start with El Niño. It has been affecting us since we were children, and now our own children and grandchildren are experiencing the same hardship.”
Ms Savui said worsening dry conditions had left villagers with little choice but to visit the creek daily to wash their clothes and collect water.
“Our children and the older men and women are also among those forced to make the daily trip to the creek.”
She said their request for Government assistance to secure a reliable water supply remained pending.
“Right now, the PVC pipes installed in the village are empty, with no water coming through.”
Ms Savui said villagers had been forced to use the creek despite concerns about possible contamination from wastewater and oil spills from a nearby factory.
“Our children have not been going to school because of the water problem.
“We would also pay $30 for a carrier truck to travel to the creek, collect water and transport it back to the village.”
She said villagers had built makeshift tents near the creek where they could change into dry clothes after washing and bathing.
