More than one billion people in the world do not have access to clean and potable water. Around 4,900 children across the world die from unclean drinking water and unhygienic living conditions every day while 1.8 million children die from diseases caused by drinking unclean water every year.

In sub-Saharan countries where there are difficult living conditions due to climate and geopolitical conditions, people need to struggle in various ways to survive. Water shortage and drought, the main problems in the region, place the poor people into a difficult position. People living in this region have to cover long distances every day to have access to water. Drinking unclean water leads to epidemics in the region, causing thousands of people to lose their lives.

In order to address the water shortage problem in Africa, the IHH launched the water wells project as part of which 2936 water wells have been opened so far. Digging of 766water wells still continues in different parts of Africa. With your donations, you can also sponsor a water well in Africa.

It takes three to six months to open a water well in African countries. Once the well-opening projects are launched, teams from the IHH regularly make inspections at the digging sites.

Opening 530 water wells in Africa, Central Asia and Far East in 2011, IHH has made it possible for thousands of people to have access to clean and potable water. Digging of 766 other water wells still continue. IHH has opened water wells in Somali, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Kashmir, Bangladesh, Chad, Mongolia and Afghanistan so far.

The cost of digging a water well varies according to the country and the depth of the well. The minimum cost of digging a well is $4,000.

Average cost of digging a water well in certain countries

1. Chad

• Cost of a water well: 4.000 USD (35–75 m.)

2. Cameroon

• Cost of a water well: 4.000 USD (25–35 m.)

3. Somalia

• Cost of a deep well: 75.000 USD (250–300 m.)

4. Kenya

• Cost of a water well 4.000 USD (25–30 m.)

5. Sudan

• Cost of a water well 5.000 EUROS (70–100 m.)

6. Burkina Faso

• Cost of a water well 6.000 EUROS (60–85 m.)

7. Sierra Leone

• Cost of a water well 5.000 EUROS (35–75 m.)

8. Malawi

• Cost of a water well 10.000 EUROS (50–80 m.)

9. Afghanistan

Cost of a water well 6.000 USD (60–80 m.) 

How can I make a donation?

In order to contribute to the IHH’s well-opening project or get information about it, you can visit the IHH headquarters in İstanbul’s Fatih district or give a call to [0090] 212 631 21 21.