The people of Kokomani village in Niger live in a lush area, compared to the rest of this desert country. They live beside the Niger River and they rely on it for their daily water needs, even though it is muddy, brown, and also used by livestock. At the riverbank, women also do their laundry and bathe, and children jump into the water to cool off. Almost all the children say they had diarrhea this past year. “I had diarrhea just a few days ago,” said Boubacar, a 9-year-old boy. “Yes, I drink this water. It does not taste good.”

Lack of clean water is the village’s biggest problem, said a World Vision health agent. “The most frequent diseases are tied to water. Every time there is a cholera epidemic in Niger, it hits here.” Local midwife Limou added: “A lot of children die from diarrhea here. Just last year it is up to five children.” A head nurse at the local clinic says about 10 percent of the population is affected by intestinal parasites because of the river water. Sadly, because of their smaller bodies and lower immunity, it is children who suffer most when clean water is unavailable.

Photo: Women and children gather at the Niger River to collect water that is not safe for them to drink.