Water and Sanitation
Key UNICEF Actions
- Initially provided 1,500 emergency latrines and 400 temporary and semi-permanent latrines, and 20 gully suckers for sludge removal in camps and transitional shelters
- Distributed 100,000 bottles of water, 25,000 water-purification kits, and essential household and hygiene supplies for 66,000 families.
- Further provided emergency water supply facilities in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in 9 districts for a target population of 550,000 in 433 locations.
- Worked closely with the Government to develop public information messages on health promotion, prevention of disease and safe hygiene.
- Undertook three assessments of water and sanitation situation in all tsunami IDP camps.
- Outbreaks of water-borne diseases in tsunami affected districts were prevented.
- As of March 2005, over 100,000 people had access to an average of 15 liters of drinking water per day.
- As of December, 120,000 persons were provided with safe water and the quantity of water available per person had increased to an average of 63 liters.
- Approximately 49,000 people benefited from 2,865 restored or constructed toilets/latrines in camps and transitional shelters. As of December 2005, 90 per cent of the residents in temporary shelters have access to sanitary facilities.
- The learning environment in tsunami-affected schools was improved through the provision of improved water and sanitation facilities in 441 schools, thus benefiting over 89,000 school children.
- Approximately 190,000 school children, their teachers as well as 30,000 IDPs in transitional shelters have been reached with hygiene promotion and health related messages through hygiene education sessions and distributions of 315,000 stickers and 200,000 leaflets.
- The partnership and sector coordination has been significantly improved.
- UNICEF continues to help upgrade water and sanitation services in transitional shelters, schools, hospitals and relocation sites.
- Support to rehabilitation of three major water supply systems in Mullaitivu, Ampara and Hambantota for a targeted population of 120,000.
- Provision of water testing equipment and treatment materials. A comprehensive water quality surveillance system is to be established in 5 districts in 2006.
- The coordination of the water and sanitation sector interventions at district and national level remains a priority.