In addition to our support of other charities, we have partnered with Unicef in support of the ‘Gardo’ rural water project in Somalia. The objective of this project is to bring clean, disease free water to the people of this particular region of Somalia.

The resident population of Gardo is an estimated 5,100 families; approximately 30,600 people. The population varies in seasons and in years due to the influx of families from drought affected communities from the rural areas. It is estimated that as many as 1,000 destitute families live in the town’s outskirts in slum settlements near the major boreholes. These families depend on the assistance of the international and local humanitarian agencies, and are supplied with 10,000 litres of water free of charge on a daily basis by the local water management company. In the summer season, when it is very hot in the coastal areas, another 1,500 households shift to Gardo to benefit from its more moderate climate and the availability of livestock products. This puts additional pressure on the already limited water resources in the town.

It's a natural extension of our mission in the UK - enabling good health and a high quality of life through the supply of clean water. Of course, their need is greater than ours, which is why we're making an even bigger financial commitment in 2008. We're also introducing new ways in which we can encourage awareness and support of this pressing need throughout every aspect of our business, including our staff, clients and customers. Although we can't solve all the world's problems, we can make a significant difference to this one region, so stay tuned for ways in which we can work together to bring water to the people that need it most.

If you would like to find out more about Unicef or support them privately then please visit www.unicef.org.uk.