I stared up hopelessly at the shower head trying to will the water to come out, but there was none. After a long hot day there is nothing better than getting home and cooling off in the shower, but on this occasion I was going to have to wait.
It was a few hours later after supper that I saw a small vehicle with a large tank. These water trucks provide water around the city and I have seen a few since I have been here, just today I saw a similar one for sewage. The provision of water in this way not only has the problem of water outages, but also raises the cost of water supply. The cost of supplying water to the periphery areas of the city may be greater still, which is of special concern as this is where the poorest and most vulnerable tend to be settled.
In a similar way electricity here is produced by diesel generators which can be expensive to maintain and run, especially with the high cost of fuel. I have frequently found myself groping around for my torch when the power has gone out or struggling to sleep because there is no power for the fan.
People, who have travelled to parts of the developing world, or the younger industrial countries, may be used to cheaper prices than are found in Europe or North America. In Juba, however, the cost of living can often be quite expensive. The lack of a developed domestic economy is one of the reasons for this. Without the infrastructure of a proper power grid or water supply these basic utilities become much more difficult to acquire. But in addition food, fuel, construction materials and capital goods are for the most part all imported from Uganda or other bordering countries (the roads to Uganda are the best so most goods come this way).
Not everything is expensive. Bottled water can be bought for the equivalent of 20 pence (30 cents) and a basic meal can be bought fairly cheaply. But at one restaurant we visited the food prices were similar to those in the United States or England. Accommodation is also costly. While I am looking for somewhere cheaper than my current room ($75 a night), this is already a low price for somewhere that provides security, water and a fan. Most hotels are $100 a night or more.
There is, therefore, some urgency for South Sudan to be able to build up its domestic industry and agriculture base in order to supply basic goods. Until this happens a decent standard of living will be out of reach for a large part of the population. On a recent trip into town I saw a number of shops selling electronic goods – cameras, stereos and computer equipment. Some of these shops seemed well kept and had new, attractive, furnishings. With peace and independence many of the comforts and luxuries of modern living have penetrated into Juba. But these are costly imports, available only to the small new elite of businessmen and foreigners. For the majority of the population there is hardship enough in just obtaining water, food and power.
It was a few hours later after supper that I saw a small vehicle with a large tank. These water trucks provide water around the city and I have seen a few since I have been here, just today I saw a similar one for sewage. The provision of water in this way not only has the problem of water outages, but also raises the cost of water supply. The cost of supplying water to the periphery areas of the city may be greater still, which is of special concern as this is where the poorest and most vulnerable tend to be settled.
In a similar way electricity here is produced by diesel generators which can be expensive to maintain and run, especially with the high cost of fuel. I have frequently found myself groping around for my torch when the power has gone out or struggling to sleep because there is no power for the fan.
People, who have travelled to parts of the developing world, or the younger industrial countries, may be used to cheaper prices than are found in Europe or North America. In Juba, however, the cost of living can often be quite expensive. The lack of a developed domestic economy is one of the reasons for this. Without the infrastructure of a proper power grid or water supply these basic utilities become much more difficult to acquire. But in addition food, fuel, construction materials and capital goods are for the most part all imported from Uganda or other bordering countries (the roads to Uganda are the best so most goods come this way).
Not everything is expensive. Bottled water can be bought for the equivalent of 20 pence (30 cents) and a basic meal can be bought fairly cheaply. But at one restaurant we visited the food prices were similar to those in the United States or England. Accommodation is also costly. While I am looking for somewhere cheaper than my current room ($75 a night), this is already a low price for somewhere that provides security, water and a fan. Most hotels are $100 a night or more.
There is, therefore, some urgency for South Sudan to be able to build up its domestic industry and agriculture base in order to supply basic goods. Until this happens a decent standard of living will be out of reach for a large part of the population. On a recent trip into town I saw a number of shops selling electronic goods – cameras, stereos and computer equipment. Some of these shops seemed well kept and had new, attractive, furnishings. With peace and independence many of the comforts and luxuries of modern living have penetrated into Juba. But these are costly imports, available only to the small new elite of businessmen and foreigners. For the majority of the population there is hardship enough in just obtaining water, food and power.
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