Water shortages hit Banjarnegara

Water shortages hit Banjarnegara

BANJARNEGARA, Central Java: At least 60 percent of the 841,000
residents in Banjarnegara are experiencing clean water shortages,
regent H. Nurachmad said on Friday.

He added there was also a lack of sufficient sanitation
facilities which only compounds the situation further.

"Many residents here still use rivers and other places rather
than a decent toilet," he said.

In a bid to cope with the problem, the United Nations Children
Fund (Unicef) will start this week a sanitary rehabilitation
project in 23 villages in 12 districts here to prevent possible
contagious diseases and diarrhea.

"We want this problem to be taken care of before the new
year," Nurachmad said. (45/edt)