Huda, a 64-year-old resident of the Bezima neighborhood in AlKufra, has lived in the same house her entire life, alongside her husband, children, and five grandchildren. “This is where I was born,” she says, “and now I am lucky to see my children and grandchildren growing up here.”
For many years, her neighborhood relied on a well that provided running water, installed about fifteen years ago. At first, it was a blessing, completely transforming daily life for Huda’s family and the community. But over time, the system began to fail. “We would sometimes go days without water” Huda recalls. When the water stopped, they had to rely on private companies to fill their rooftop tank, which came at a price. “These breakdowns were more than an inconvenience—they were an high extra cost for us” she explains.
For years, the community adapted, hoping for lasting change. That change finally began to take shape in late 2023 when Huda’s husband, a community representative, attended a meeting organized by Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) as part of the Baladiyati programme. This meeting brought together local residents and the water company to address the recurring water shortages that had long plagued the neighborhood.
It became clear during the meeting that unauthorized repairs made by residents—desperate to fix the system themselves—were often the cause of the frequent breakdowns. Together, the community representatives and experts from PUI identified a solution: the construction of a secure control room to protect the well and the electrical installations from tampering.
The construction of the control room began in early 2024, and in a matter of days, the work was completed. For Huda and her neighbors, it was a moment of anticipation. “We watched workers build this control room in just a few days, eager to see if this identified solution would truly improve the situation,” she remembers.
Since then, the results have been remarkable. The control room, completed in February 2024, quickly proved its worth. The neighborhood has only experienced one minor disruption, which the water company resolved within a few hours. “We are thrilled with the result and hope it continues,” Huda says with a smile.
Huda’s neighborhood is just one of many across Al Kufra that has benefited from the construction of ten control rooms designed to protect vital water infrastructure. This initiative, implemented by PUI in collaboration with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and funded by the European Union, is part of the Baladiyati programme’s mission to empower local communities and ensure sustainable access to basic services in Libya.
This story was written by AICS based on content collected on ground by Premiere Urgence Internationale
Photo credit: PUI and Canva – copyright free
