← Famidi AnswersHumanitarian aid terms

What does “borehole” mean in humanitarian aid?

Reviewed by Famidi editorial team
Direct answer

A borehole is a narrow, drilled shaft used to investigate or access underground layers, often for groundwater supply.

What the figure or term means

Afghan water projects may use boreholes where hydrogeology, depth, yield, quality, and maintenance support the design.

Drilling a hole is only one stage before casing, development, testing, pumping, and handoff.

A borehole does not guarantee safe or sustainable water.

When the term affects eligibility, safety, funding, or program design, check the complete cited standard rather than relying on a short definition.

How to use this information responsibly

Humanitarian terms are useful only when their technical meaning is preserved. These explainers translate common language without replacing the source standards used by professional responders.

Organizations may apply a term under a specific policy, assessment framework, or program design. Read the cited standard before using a glossary page for an operational decision.

Sources and records

Check the underlying information.

  1. Famidi water projects
  2. OCHA humanitarian information-management glossary ↗
  3. Inter-Agency Standing Committee ↗
  4. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification ↗

Editorial standard: This page is reviewed by a person, sourced to Famidi records or authoritative references, and revised when the program or underlying guidance changes. It does not replace legal, tax, medical, or financial advice.