Which is better: providing water to the needy in the local country or digging a well in an African country?

Neighbors and relatives have a greater claim to kindness, unless those who are farther away are in dire need. This is indicated by prophetic hadiths that recommend good treatment of neighbors, among them: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him be good to his neighbor," and the hadith of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her: "O Messenger of Allah, I have two neighbors, to which of them should I send a gift?" He said: "To the one whose door is closer to you," and "Gabriel kept enjoining me about the neighbor until I thought he would make him an heir." Al-Shirbini holds the view that giving charity to the closest neighbor is better than giving it to someone who is not a neighbor.