UNICEF Video

Rainwater harvesting in Indonesia

The island of Alor is just two short flights away from Bali, and yet it's a world away when it comes to the most basic of life's necessities: clean drinking water.

Climate change experts warn that the problem could get worse. It rains here a mere four months out of the year, and residents often resort to collecting water from local streams. The only alternative had been to buy water from small tanker trucks that travel around the island.

"If it's the dry season we have to walk five kilometres from early morning, and sometimes we don't get home until noon," said Juliana, a homemaker. "I have to bring this 20-litre can. Sometimes it's enough, sometimes it isn't."

In this video, UNICEF's Suzanna Dayne reports on the use of rainwater harvesting to help islanders in Indonesia cope with the lack of water resources.

Read about our water programmes.