In brief
- Somaliland Standard reported on 11 October 2023 that Minister Ali Hassan Mohamed inaugurated five water wells in Kala-jab, Sahel region, to increase Berbera's water supply.
- The minister said up to 35 km of pipes would connect the wells to Berbera's expansion, intended for the western city, airport, and nearby areas.
- No contractor, cost, timeline, or current operational status is disclosed since the 2023 report.
On 11 October 2023, Somaliland Standard reported that Somaliland's Minister of Water Development, Hon. Ali Hassan Mohamed (Ali Marrehaan), inaugurated five water wells in the Kala-jab area of the Sahel region. According to the publication, the wells are meant to increase the water supply in Berbera city.
The report does not establish what has happened since that date. It provides no information on whether the wells have become operational, been connected to a distribution network, or begun supplying water to Berbera. No contractor, implementing agency, consultant, or engineer is named, and no contract value, project cost, budget, or funding agreement is disclosed.
Somaliland Standard also reported statements by the minister. He said that up to 35 km of pipes, the five wells, and their equipment would be connected to the expansion of water in Berbera. The minister stated the expansion is intended for the western part of the city, the airport, and nearby areas. He described Berbera as an arterial and hot city that needs a lot of water, citing people, animals, ships, and new buildings.
The minister further said that water supplying efforts are going on intensively and extensively all over the country, and that many water projects are presently going on in the country in general. These statements are reported by Somaliland Standard; they are not independently verified by Somali Construction Review.
The source does not reconcile a location inconsistency: the five wells are placed in Kala-jab area of the Sahel region, while the water expansion project is mentioned in the context of Barwako village in Berbera. No further details are provided on the relationship between these locations.
No well specifications such as depth, yield, pump type, storage, treatment, or design capacity are given. No beneficiary figures, population served, or output volume are stated. No start date, construction timeline, or completion date is provided for the wells, the 35 km of pipes, or the expansion.
The publication attributes the project to a collaboration with an individual Egyptian donor, Sheikh Nayal Rashid Seyf, but no funding agreement or contribution amount is disclosed. The identity and affiliations of the donor are not verified beyond the publication's naming.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the five wells located?
According to Somaliland Standard, the wells are in the Kala-jab area of the Sahel region.
Who is funding the drilling?
Somaliland Standard reports collaboration with an individual Egyptian donor, Sheikh Nayal Rashid Seyf, but no funding agreement or contribution amount is disclosed.
When will the wells be operational?
No date or timeline is provided. The report from 11 October 2023 only describes an inauguration event.