700 water filters distributed to Samangan villagers

AIBAK (PAN): Hundreds of water filters were distributed to people in five villages of a district in northern Samangan province, officials said on Saturday.

The 700 filters provided by the Afghan Aid Organization were distributed to about 700 families in five villages of Hazrat Sultan district in order to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases among children and elderly people, the organisation’s regional head, Assadullah Azizi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The villages, where the filters were distributed, included Sarqia Afghania, Asiaabad, Lupan, Qul Qamsai and Nawaabad, he said. He said the aim was to prevent the spread of diseases caused by impure water.

“Residents of these villages have been using unsafe water, which they fetch from pools, natural streams and river. The filters will make drinking water 99 percent healthy,” he said.  A filter can purify more than 40 litres of water in 24 hours, he said.

The National Disasters Management Authority chief, Rajab Ali Yousufi, said more water filters would also be distributed to people in other parts of the province, where 70 percent of people have no access to clean water.

Most of children fall prey to water-borne diseases like vomiting and diarrhea in summer when the consumption of water increases, Sakhidad, 55, a resident of Sarqia Afghania village, said. “My concern is now addressed after receiving filters,” he said.

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