18 September 2008

Without clean water, no UN peacekeeping mission would last longer than a few days. Since post-conflict countries often have disrupted and dysfunctional water supplies and limited stocks for peacekeepers, the contributions of UNV volunteer Water and Sanitation Engineers are vital.

Their tasks include the operation and maintenance of all water production, treatment and distribution facilities, and monitoring the quality of water produced for thousands of peacekeeping mission staff, both military and civilian. UNV volunteer Supunya Yonpiam thus found that there was a lot of work to be done when she joined the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in August 2008.

"I have been asked when water testing could be done by UNMIL's laboratory," she says. "My simple answer could be: 'I'm coming'. In my experience, setting up a new lab with all-new facilities takes up to six months, including delivery time of equipment and with support from local equipment distributors." However, Ms. Supunya is confident that the UNMIL team will be able to get the laboratory in action soon. "I never walk alone," she comments.

Once the water supply infrastructure is in place for a UN mission, the technology and expertise involved can be built upon for the country as a whole. This is the ambition of Ayokunle Dada, another UNV volunteer Water and Sanitation Engineer with UNMIL.

"The battle against mortality associated with unsafe drinking water in my continent has to be won," he says. "Paramount to achieving this feat is planning and implementing programmes and policies that identify and meet water and sanitation needs."

Supunya Yonpiam carries the same spirit. "I hope I’ll have an opportunity to share and transfer my skills, knowledge and experiences" she says. "I found it's very challenging to work and to compete with myself to achieve something not only for a community such as UNMIL but also for my own peaceful spirit."

Read Ayokunle Dada's dream for clean water in Africa here
Read Supunya Yonpiam's perspective as a 'Water Doctor' here