For the families of Ahmadabad village in Keshem District of Badakhshan Province, rebuilding life after displacement meant starting over with very few resources. Among them was Mehrabuddin, who, like many of his neighbors, struggled daily to secure one of life's most basic necessities, safe drinking water.

Having been displaced from another area, the community settled in Ahmadabad without access to a reliable water source. Every day, families spent nearly an hour collecting water from distant locations, transporting it on donkeys and mules. The long journeys consumed valuable time and exposed residents to unsafe water, leaving many vulnerable to waterborne diseases.

Salahuddin, Mehrabuddin's nephew, happily collects safe drinking water from the newly constructed standpost at his family's home

in Ahmadabad village, Keshem District, Badakhshan Province.

Recalling those difficult days with a heavy heart, Mehrabuddin said, "When we first arrived in Ahmadabad, we had no access to safe drinking water. Every day, we spent nearly an hour fetching water from distant sources using donkeys and mules. Many villagers had suffered from waterborne diseases, and finding enough safe water had been one of our greatest challenges."

Hope arrived when DACAAR, with support from Solidarity Committee (SC) and Water for All, implemented the Improving Sustainable Access to Safe Drinking Water in Badakhshan (Keshem District) project. Through the rehabilitation of reservoirs and water supply networks, installation of more than 122 kilometers of pipelines, construction of 2,628 standposts, and the establishment of a Water Management Committee, the project brought reliable access to safe drinking water to 2,628 households across the district.

With a smile, Mehrabuddin reflected on the changes, saying, "After the project, we finally gained easy access to safe drinking water. Our families became healthier, and we no longer spent hours fetching water. Young people were able to focus on their daily work instead of searching for water, and our community finally began to feel settled."

For families who arrived in Ahmadabad with little more than hope, access to safe drinking water has become more than a basic service, it has restored dignity, improved health, and allowed them to begin building a more secure future.

^{Drinking water reservoir provides safe water to residents of Ahmadabad village, Keshem District, Badakhshan Province.}

Written and photographed by: Israrullah Sahil