Water and sanitation critically needed for Sri Lanka's war-affected

While government authorities and UN and aid agencies prepare to receive the second wave of people from the conflict zone, water and sanitation are still in critically short supply in the existing camps.

Organization in the camps in Vavuniya has improved over the past few days since a mass exodus of nearly 120,000 people fled the conflict zone two weeks ago. But as the initial turmoil has passed, aid agencies are dealing with the massive logistical issues that go along with meeting the needs of people in such large camps.

Emergency trench toilets were erected immediately as a temporary measure, but these urgently need to be replaced with semi-permanent latrines to prevent the spread of disease and ensure sanitation in the camps. While CARE and other agencies are installing water taps and tanks, the relief response is still struggling to bring in enough water, particularly as the dry season approaches. Read more ...