(July 21, 2016) Shidiab, Sudan in the Red Sea State is a village with approximately 3,000 inhabitants that was largely destroyed last October by a violent flood. 40% of homes (430 houses) were deestroyed. Shidiab was built in a depression and is therefore at greater risk for flood. It was a wounded country that has now been revived thanks to Italy’s aid. The Italian Development Cooperation Agency (AICS), in the context of a tight collaboration between the Emergency and Agricultural Agricultural Programme, has donated 100 tonnes of cement for the reconstruction of the entire village. They have also donated 3,000 pieces of agricultural equipment. The Ambassador to Khartoum notes that the donation to the local Beja community was carried out in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Sudan, Fabrizio Lobasso who was on visit to the state. “Aid to more vulnerable groups is a fundamental prerogative of Italian Foreign Aid. With this initiative we also reinforce the basis for a collaboration in the field. That is, the inhabitants of Shidiab themselves will rebuild their village” according to Lobasso. AICS will support the new settlement in regards to water distribution and technical assistance to guarantee the reconstruction of an adjacent and more elevated area to avoid the risk of flooding. Such initiative is the only example in the Red Sea of ‘urban resettlement’ according to a modern scheme: decided with the local communities. Following the donations, there will be training courses for equipment handling organised by the AICS. “Equipment and know-how need to go hand in hand for the gradual development of the country” according to Ambassador Lobasso. (Red)
Sudan. Village ‘restarts’ thanks to Italian foreign aid
