In Tigray Region, Yichella town, Emba Rufael kebele, access to water has long been a daily challenge. For many families, getting water meant walking long distances and spending hours each day on the task. The northern conflict further worsened the situation by damaging already existing water supply systems.
The Agora water point in Embawork village
For years, that search defined Tibletse Heluf’s life. She collected water from a river more than two hours away. The journey was difficult, especially during the rainy season when the road became slippery and unsafe. Even after reaching the river, there was no certainty of getting water. At times, flooding made it impossible to collect any, and she would return home with empty jerrycans.
The time spent fetching water affected her daily life.
It was not only the distance,” Tibletse explains. “We also waited in long queues for hours.
While I was there, I kept thinking about my children and the work I had left at home.” On most trips, she carried two jerrycans, but this was often not enough, forcing her to make a second journey.
Tibletse Heluf fetching water at the rehablitated water point.
But the hardest burden wasn’t the distance or the exhaustion, it was watching her children fall ill. The river water was not safe, and her children frequently became sick with diarrhea and vomiting. As a subsistence farmer with little income, covering medical expenses was difficult.
“I was very worried when they got sick,” she says quietly. “I didn’t have money for the hospital.
When it was serious, I borrowed from neighbors.”
Even then, relief was temporary. The same water that made them sick was the only water they had.
At the beginning of 2026, the Agora water point, which had been damaged during the conflict, was rehabilitated and restored to full functionality by Action Against Hunger with financial support from the European Union. The water source significantly reduced the time and effort needed to collect water. Tibletse now walks about five minutes to access clean and safe water, which is available throughout the day.
A child enjoying the water at the rehabilitated water point.
This has made a noticeable difference in her routine. Her children are healthier. Her days are no longer consumed by the search for water. She can cook on time, care for her home, and, most importantly, be present for her children. “I am happy now,” she says, smiling. “I can send my children to school on time. I only wish this had come sooner.”
The Agora water point is more than a source of water, it is a shared responsibility. A committee of seven community members manages its use, collecting small fees and ensuring it remains functional. Among them is Letebirhan Wubet, who understands deeply what this change means.
Letebirhan Wubet talks with Tibletse about the rehabilitated water point.
She recalls how her mother used to leave home early in the morning to fetch water and return hours later, exhausted. “I remember my mom leaving the house at 2 a.m. to fetch water and coming back home at 10 a.m. I always felt worried when I saw her tired face. I wish I had been big enough to help her,” she said.
Now, her mother only needs a few minutes to collect water.
Letebirhan is a graduate in water technology. She contributes her skills to support the system and raise awareness about hygiene and illness caused by drinking dirty water. “I am proud to serve my community,” she says.
In the arid lands of Emba Rufael kebele, the Agora water supply is a symbol of hope and livelihood for the community. It serves around 1400 people, improving access to clean water and reducing the challenges families previously faced. In Abergelle Woreda, Yichela town, Action Against Hunger with the European Union funding, supported the rehabilitation of 10 water points and the minor maintenance of 38 others, ensuring that more communities regained reliable access to safe water and improved their daily living conditions.
