Learn how we’re bringing clean water to communities in Nigeria ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌







Seven years ago, a brutal conflict between herders and farmers erupted in Lele Muhammed’s hometown in Nigeria over access to Benue River, the only reliable freshwater within several hundred miles.

Fearing for their safety, Lele and her family, along with other herders, fled to Kodomum-Upper, a desert brush area where the nearest well was a two-hour trek away.

At least 40% of all intrastate conflicts that occurred in the last 60 years were linked to availability of natural resources.

For decades, Mercy Corps has worked with communities to develop sustainable, equitable access to resources, such as clean water. In December of 2022, we installed a borehole in Kodomun-Upper — turning Lele’s multiple hours-long treks to retrieve water each day into just a few minute walk.
     
"The people of this community are happy. They are no longer sad or living without hope."
 
LELE, NIGERIA
 
Before Mercy Corps dug the borehole, Lele said she constantly worried about having enough water. Her children’s health often suffered because they were only able to bathe once a week or so and the well water was often poor quality, leaving her family susceptible to illness.

Now with regular access to water, Lele’s family not only has a more consistent quality of life, but has an improved income base as well. The animals they herd have gotten sick far less frequently and are showing higher rates of fertility.

Compassionate people like you are an important part of helping families around the world gain access to basic resources, like clean water and healthy food, in the midst of conflict and climate change.

But there is still so much more work to do. Do you know how many people lack access to clean drinking water? Learn how many people still lack access to clean water and how Mercy Corps is helping.

With gratitude,

The Mercy Corps team