Residents of Bethel Town in Monweh District, Rivercess County are raising serious concerns over a growing public health crisis as contaminated water sources, reportedly caused by illegal mining activities, continue to threaten the wellbeing of the community.
The town is currently facing what residents fear could develop into an outbreak of diarrhea and severe stomach pain, as access to safe drinking water becomes increasingly difficult.
According to community members, citizens now spend between 30 to 35 minutes walking long distances each day in search of what they describe as safe drinking water for drinking, cooking, and other domestic purposes.
Residents blame illegal miners for polluting the town’s main water source, leaving families with limited options and increasing fears of waterborne diseases.
Speaking to this paper, Bethel Town resident Victoria Smith recounted the alarming moment the community realized the severity of the contamination.
“The last time we saw dead fish floating over the water we used to drink since our town was burned, we became scared to even wash or cook with that water,” she said.
Her statement reflects the growing fear among residents, many of whom say they no longer trust the streams and creeks that once served as reliable sources of water.
Beyond the violence and insecurity that have already affected the town, Bethel is now battling another dangerous challenge—water contamination.
Residents say the pollution has significantly disrupted daily life, with families forced to ration clean water while worrying about the health of children and elderly people, who are considered most vulnerable to water-related illnesses.
Community members are now calling on government authorities, health officials, and humanitarian organizations to urgently intervene by investigating the reported contamination and providing immediate access to safe drinking water.
For the people of Bethel Town, clean water has become more than a basic necessity—it is now a matter of survival.
