Baku - An IOM programme to rehabilitate traditional, low maintenance and sustainable underground water systems, locally known as kahrizes, has received new funding from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The USD 1.2 million programme will renovate a total of 20 major kahrizes in the drought affected regions of Barda, Goranboy, Goygol, Samukh, Shemkir, Terter and Tovuz. It will also refurbish irrigation channels in 20 villages and assess water needs of other regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which suffer from chronic water shortages.

As a result, some 3,000 households will directly benefit from improved access to water for consumption and irrigation. Community members, including women, will be trained on best water management practices.

The overall objective of the two and a half year project is to encourage sustainable water management in rural communities to promote livelihoods through agriculture as an alternative to migration to urban areas.

In Azerbaijan, as it is in many parts of the world, water is in short supply. Much of Azerbaijan's land accounts for one of the driest regions on earth.

Kahrizes were first developed in neighbouring Iran some 3,000 years ago to take underground water to the surface through simple gravity flow. For centuries, throughout the region, well-maintained kahrizes provided a constant year-round water supply through a network of interconnected wells and underground tunnels that collect water from the hills.

During the Soviet time, many networks collapsed because of neglect until IOM began in 1999 a comprehensive renovation programme, which has resulted in the rehabilitation of 94 kahrizes benefiting more than 15,000 families.

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For more information on IOM's Kahriz renovation programme, contact: Vassiliy Yuzhanin IOM Baku Tel: (994.12) 465 90 71 E-mail: vyuzhanin@iom.int