For more than ten years, the people of Gambella have lived with a crisis that touches every home, every

Women in Gambella Fetchinmg Water from the ponds

village, and every family, the shortage of clean, reliable drinking water.

Despite the region’s natural resources and its potential for growth, countless communities still struggle every single day to find safe water for cooking, drinking, and basic survival.

What should be an essential human right has instead become a daily challenge for thousands. In many areas, residents are forced to gather water from a leaking pipeline along the roadside, a pipeline never meant to serve as a public water source.

The scene is painful yet familiar: children holding small containers, women lining up near the trickling leak, and families collecting whatever amount they can before the sun sets. The risks are well-known.

Unclean water brings sickness, weakens families, and fuels a cycle of hardship. Yet, for many, there is no alternative. This situation raises important questions about past and present leadership in the region.

When a basic need remains unaddressed for more than a decade, it becomes clear that something in the system requires reflection.

While the current administration has spoken about development and progress, the water crisis reminds us that certain fundamental responsibilities still need stronger attention and more determined action. This is not to ignore the challenges local leaders face.

Infrastructure is costly, maintenance requires consistent planning, and regional development demands coordination at many levels. But even with these realities, the people of Gambella deserve a more proactive and transparent approach one that prioritizes long-term solutions instead of temporary fixes.

Communities want to see clear strategies, real investments, and regular communication about what is being done to solve the water shortage. They hope their leaders will acknowledge the gaps, listen closely to public concerns, and take steps that can restore trust.

Clean water should not be a privilege reserved for a few; it must be accessible to all. The past decade has shown the consequences of delay and the cost of insufficient action. The next decade must look different.

Gambella needs leadership that treats water not just as a development project, but as a human right, one that cannot wait.

The people have carried this burden long enough. It is time for renewed commitment, stronger responsibility, and a future where no resident has to collect water from a roadside leak to survive.

This article was written by Pam Chuol Joack, an expert on Gambella affairs.