By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Ethiopia, 3 December 2025 – The Somali Regional State has officially launched a large-scale groundwater study across 20 districts bordering Somalia.
The project, implemented by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and funded by the European Union Bank, seeks to assess underground water availability to support long-term water supply planning.
The lauch ceremony, held in Jijiga on Tuesday, was attended by the SRS ministers, project representatives, and water resource experts.
Speaking at the launch, Water Minister Ahmed Miral, said the study will determine potential water sources across the selected districts.
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“Once the study is complete, we plan to proceed with drilling up to 10 wells to improve water access,” he stated.
The $11million (1.7 billion birr), project will employ modern equipment and compile detailed data on groundwater resources to ensure sustainable water provision.
It is expected to benefit approximately 1.3 million people once completed.