'It brings me peace of mind'
Amid drought in southern Zambia, Red Cross support provided a 20-litre lifeline, help with daily hygiene and renewed hope for families struggling to stay healthy as water supplies ran dry.
Special World Water Day 2026 report. #LocalEverywhere
In southern Zambia, where drought has turned rivers into dust and finding water a daily struggle, a simple 20-litre container and some essential hygiene supplies have become a lifeline for families trying to stay healthy.
Protecting health and dignity
In the parched landscapes of southern Zambia, rivers that once nourished fields and livestock have turned into winding stretches of dust.
Communities in Sinazongwe District faced one of the harshest droughts in recent memory. Across Zambia, prolonged dry spells devastated crops, livestock and livelihoods, prompting the government to declare a national emergency in early 2024.
An estimated 6.6 million people required urgent humanitarian assistance, with millions facing rising food insecurity and limited access to safe water.
For many families, accessing safe water quickly became an urgent daily struggle.
Where clean water is scarce, the risks are immediate: diarrhoea, cholera and other life-threatening diseases.
Yet even in this challenging reality, a simple 20-litre water container became more than a household item — it became a lifeline.
Reaching families where the need Is greatest
The Red Cross solidarity during these difficult times did not stop there.
With support from the Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), thousands of households in Sinazongwe District also received essential hygiene supplies during the drought response — helping communities safely store and treat water when supplies were scarce.
With funds raised through the IFRC's Zambia: Drought Emergency Appeal, the Zambia Red Cross Society reached more than 3,100 households in Sinazongwe District with hygiene kits.
Each kit contained:
- Multipurpose soap
- Water treatment chlorine
- A durable 20-litre container for safe water storage
These essential items helped families protect their health, maintain hygiene, and preserve dignity during the prolonged drought.
On this World Water Day 2026, these small but vital changes tell a bigger story. For families rebuilding after drought, basic hygiene supplies like these offer the promise of something far greater: health, resilience, and hope — one household at a time.
'It brings me peace of mind'
For 47-year-old Elia Sialanga from Kabanana compound, the support has made a meaningful difference in daily life.
Elia uses a wheelchair and had long struggled to collect and safely store water for her household.
“Before, storing water was very difficult for me. Containers would fall over or get dirty quickly,” she explains.
“Now I can keep water safe for my family. It brings me peace of mind.”
Protecting Children, Protecting the Future
For Muleya Sikuteka, a mother of four from Siamunsila village who lives with albinism, the hygiene kit represents reassurance.
“I used to worry every day about my children drinking water that could make them sick,” she says.
“With this container and chlorine, I know I can keep them safe.”
Simple tools, powerful protection
The drought forced many families to collect water from unsafe sources — shallow wells, livestock pools, and drying riverbeds — increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Red Cross teams did more than distribute supplies. Volunteers also worked closely with communities to promote safe water handling, sanitation and hygiene practices, helping families use the resources effectively and sustainably.
Across the drought response, volunteers reached more than 45,000 households with health and disease prevention messages, helping reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses during the crisis.
At the same time, Red Cross teams helped restore access to safe water by rehabilitating boreholes and strengthening local water point management systems, allowing more than 15,000 people to regain access to safer water sources.
Impact in numbers
3,112
Number of households that received hygiene kits in Sinazongwe.
15,000+
Number of people regained safer water access through borehole rehabilitation.
45,000
Number of households households reached with disease prevention messages.
4,400+
Number of households that received emergency cash assistance.
Support that preserves choice and dignity
In addition to hygiene kits, the Zambia Red Cross Society also provided cash assistance to drought-affected households, allowing families to prioritize their most urgent needs.
Through the response, over 4,400 households received emergency cash support, helping families purchase food, pay school costs, or secure additional household essentials.
Cash assistance restores dignity, strengthens local markets, and supports resilience as communities navigate the impacts of climate-driven drought.
Strengthening resilience, one household at a time
The drought response — valued at ZMW 1.3 million (52,540 Swiss francs) for the hygiene intervention in Sinazongwe — formed part of a broader operation supporting over 380,000 people across drought-affected districts.
From elderly caregivers carrying containers home, to volunteers sharing hygiene knowledge and persons with disabilities receiving tailored support, the response prioritized dignity, inclusion and humanity.
Today, even as the emergency appeal concludes, its impact remains visible across communities in Sinazongwe.
Read more World Water Day 2026 stories:
Learn more:
The IFRC approach to water, sanitation and hygiene
Credits:
All photos and texts by Rumbidzai Nenzou / IFRC
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