In Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, struggling with war and famine, water wells opened by Turkey’s State Hydraulic Works (DSI) have resolved the water problems of nearly 30,000 people.
According to information obtained by Anadolu Agency from DSI officials in Somalia, Turkey, aiming to strengthen its relations with Africa, assigned DSI to carry out a series of drilling projects to provide clean water to the Somali people. The teams started first in Erzurum and later in Eskişehir.
The DSI team, equipped with a drilling machine and equipment brought from Turkey, began their work to solve one of the biggest problems of Somalia and Mogadishu—healthy drinking water and sanitation. Initially, they drilled wells in tent camps housing people displaced by the war in the capital, then expanded to larger settlements in cooperation with the Somali Health Ministry.
These efforts have directly addressed the water needs of about 30,000 people, while also indirectly aiming to reduce diseases. Additionally, the water from these wells will support the construction of hospitals, schools, and new residential areas, funded by Turkish contributions.
Ahmet Şekerci, DSI Project Manager, told Anadolu Agency that their work in Mogadishu aligns with Turkey’s broader activities in Africa. He said: “Together with Turkish Red Crescent and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, we drilled wells for an asphalt construction site. People in the surrounding areas will benefit from this well. We will continue to carry out a series of drilling projects to supply drinking water to Mogadishu, which has faced massive displacement.”
(Anadolu Agency – Tahir Turan Eroğlu)
