Letter: Water project

In common with many of your readers, I've been extremely distressed to see more reports of the effects of three years of drought in the Horn of Africa, and have listened to many appeals for donations (your report, 8 July).

I'm almost always overwhelmed by a desire to contribute, perhaps through a feeling of guilt on my part as I have most things in life that I need and/or desire.

However, I already contribute very regularly to five charities - some in the UK, some overseas - and I find it difficult with the rising cost of living to be able to find any "surplus" which I can send. This is the 21st century and the problems of horrendous water shortages in certain areas of the world have been in existence for many years.

Would it not be possible for our world's expert engineers and other professionals to design and establish a series of mega-size reservoirs in adjacent regions of Africa - no matter how distant they are, but where water is more readily available - with the requisite massive pipeline network to bring water to those desperate areas for many years in the future?

Russia and China diverted and enlarged the courses of massive rivers in recent years. Surely this would be a project most of the world experts could embrace.

Margery Bruce

Silverknowes View

Edinburgh