Following the cyclone that struck the region around Bilibiza, Mozambique this past April, residents have returned to rebuild their homes and are beginning to resume normal daily activities.

With Water1st’s financial assistance, the community is engaged in cooperative efforts to plant gardens with short rotation crops, primarily vegetables. The sooner they can harvest the crops, the sooner they can transition back to self-sufficiency. Our local partner, GSB, is organizing the farmer coops and providing the seeds and tools. The community is investing its labor.

In September, GSB expects they can resume work on the Bilibiza water supply project. The community must dig trench for the network of pipes that will bring water to households and septic pits for household toilets. Presently, the soil is saturated from the heavy rains that accompanied the cyclone. The saturated soils aren’t stable enough to support 3-foot deep pipeline trenches or 7-foot deep septic pits. By September, the soil should be dry enough to start the trenching process.

The new water system and household toilets are projected to be operational by late November. It is our hope that when 2019 comes to a close, the people of Bilibiza will remember it as the year they survived the cyclone AND the year they solved their water and sanitation crisis.

We are grateful to our generous donors who stepped up to support this emergency recovery effort and to those who continue to support ongoing water and sanitation efforts in Mozambique.