Partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

In 2003, Nestlé began a partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to address the water needs of more than 200000 Somali refugees and local people in Eastern Ethiopia. The partnership was based on financial support through cash donations of more than $US 700’000, as well as on-going technical assistance in the Nestlé Waters hydrogeologist and water resources manager. The result of this partnership with the UNHCR was a multi-faceted water system including rehabilitated wells, an improved pumping and purification station connected to a 22-km pipeline, new water taps in adjacent villages and a new dam to capture rainfall. During 2005, the Company began the process of handing over the long-term operation and maintenance of the system to local water authorities.