Wau residents face water crisis as prices hit 1,500 SSP per jerrican

2026-03-19 - 09:04

WAU, Western Equatoria (Eye Radio) – Residents in Wau are calling for government intervention as the cost of water rises, creating a strain on households, the elderly, and students. In recent days, the price for a single jerrican of water reached 1,500 SSP. Local inhabitants report that some areas have gone without water for two days during the current dry season. Angelo, David, a resident in Wau, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the price hikes are hitting vulnerable groups the hardest. “We are facing serious issues with water prices. This is hitting families hard, especially the elderly who are living alone,” the resident said. “Currently, water has been unavailable for two days. With the dry season ongoing, we are worried about what will happen.“ https://www.eyeradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Angelo-David-Resident-of-Wau-town.mp3 The scarcity is also affecting education. Another resident told Eye Radio that some children are missing school because their families cannot secure enough water for daily needs. The crisis extends to those who provide water services. Water refillers and tanker operators noted that their own costs are climbing. Prices to fill larger quantities of water have jumped from 4,000 SSP to 5,000 SSP and now stand at 10,000 SSP. These refillers explained that the cost of feeding the donkeys used to transport water has also increased, forcing them to pass the expense on to the public. “Daily wages are decreasing,” one worker explained. “We work first to earn our wages before meeting our basic needs. That is why we had to increase the amount of money we spend on filling water.“ The price increases are reportedly affecting other areas of daily life, including the maintenance of livestock. Residents are now urging the government to investigate the causes of the hike and address the supply shortage in the city. “Our message to the government is to urgently look into this water problem,” a resident added. https://www.eyeradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Samayedeen-Mohamed-Resident-of-Wau-town.mp3