Eight million Somalis do not have access to safe water and sanitation – 41% of the population. In a context where waterborne diseases frequently kill the most vulnerable, the availability and quality of water is a life-and-death issue for many.

Two-thirds of newly displaced families are water insecure, which means they do not have a safe and reliable supply of clean water within reach of their temporary homes. When women are forced to give birth in poor and unsanitary conditions in over-crowded camps, the lives of mothers and babies are put at risk.

Zamzam Foundation is in the forefront of providing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes across Somalia. We are drilling boreholes and digging wells to protect the health of the most vulnerable, as well as investing in community education to encourage good hygiene practices.

In 2024 we provided clean water for 978,778 people by drilling 23 new boreholes, repairing or upgrading 14 existing ones, and digging 135 new community wells.