WESTERN PROVINCE

RUTSIRO—Some 3,000 people in Western Province are now enjoying better access to clean drinking water following the completion of the Gasasa water supply project in Bwiza, 250 kilometers west of Kigali.

The International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] and the Rutsiro district authorities launched the project in October 2006 and it was inaugurated yesterday in Bwiza.

"Through projects like the one we inaugurate today, the ICRC assisted rural populations in Rwanda by providing them with safe drinking water and improving their living conditions,” said.

Tobias Epprecht, head of the ICRC delegation in Kigali. This joint project involving the local community, local authorities and the ICRC has increased the total daily water production capacity and succeeded in providing 20 liters of water to a person each day in Murunda and Rusebeya.

The minister of state for water and mines Munyanganizi Bikoro showed his gratitude to the Red Cross for having voluntarily offered water to different rural areas.

"The ICRC is known for developing very rural areas that other non–governmental organizations have failed to reach.”

To ensure sustainable management and efficient operation of the newly innovated water supply system, the ICRC helped set monitoring committees in the four districts, and provided them with technical and accounting resources.

Early this year, the International Committee of the Red Cross inaugurated a water supply project in Kabaya and a spring catchment in Muhanga.

ICRC plans to run four further projects in the coming months at Cyuga-Gihogwe, Rurindo and Gasabo districts, Northern Province and Kigali City.

"This water came from these hills. I call upon investors to come and develop Western Province, for it has the resources to grow and succeed,” said Munyanganizi. 63,000 people are expected to benefit from these projects.

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