A water crisis in the South Kordofan town of Babanusa has entered its third week as a number of citizens continue to complain of increasing water prices in some residential areas and its total absence in others.

Last Friday the price of one barrel of water was reported to have reached to twelve Sudanese pounds (SDG) amidst complaints of scarcity.

The crisis stems from the combined breakdown of the town's water system together with a number of hand pumps that citizens had relied on as back up.

Many residents are reportedly being forced to wait in long queues at boreholes as the limited remaining access points in the area become overcrowded.

“The water crisis in Babanusa town is entering its third week. The main reason behind this is the breakdown of hand pumps as al-Bamb’s hand pump got broken and stopped working. The town water network was not working so people were depending hand pumps but they are now not functioning. About three hand pumps are not working,” a citizen from Babanusa complained.

The residents urged local authorities to intervene and carry out important repair work in order for them to regain access to a clean water supply.

Photo: Babanusa market during the fall (sudaneseonline.com).