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Safe water for 1000 people
Water and sanitation in Sri Lanka
After the tsunami in December 2004, many people's homes in Sri Lanka, off the coast of India, were washed away. The tidal wave also polluted much of the water supply which meant that it was hard to find clean water to cook and wash with.
Oxfam has been working in several camps to help provide safe water for people whose homes were destroyed.
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'CTB' camp in Kinniya, Trincomalee district, eastern Sri Lanka. Photo:Tori Ray / Oxfam
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Why has Oxfam been working to provide safe water?
Can you imagine how smelly you would be if your clothes hadn't been washed for days and you hadn't had a proper bath for ages? Without clean water it is really hard for people to keep themselves clean.
Dirty water can also spread disease very quickly. Cooking food in water that isn't clean means that germs can get into the meal, and people may fall ill. It wouldn't be very nice if everything you ate made you sick!
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Oxfam water bowsers fill the Oxfam tanks in Sagaman camp, Ampara district. Water bowsers have to do at least two trips a day to each camp to ensure enough water is provided. Photo:Howard Davies / Oxfam
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How has Oxfam been helping?
Oxfam has been using its special knowledge of water and hygiene to try and get water supplies and wells back to the way they were before the tsunami.
We have been employing local labourers, carpenters and masons to get the job done and have been trying to find them from within the camps. Before the tsunami many people were working in these jobs anyway, and it's good to help local people keep up their skills.
Oxfam engineers have been building large 'T11' water tanks as storage tanks to supply water to tapstands in other parts of the camps. Water 'bowsers' come twice a day to fill these up.
What difference has Oxfam's work made?
Arasambaki Ganesanathan has been living in one of the tents close to the Oxfam tapstands in Sagaman camp with her six children. Her husband is away harvesting.
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Arasambaki Ganesanathan with her family, washing her child at the Oxfam tapstand near her tent. Photo: Howard Davies/ Oxfam
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"I don't think the tsunami will come again but [at home] there is no water as the wells are all salty and the water has gone black. Here the water is good, we have enough for drinking and washing, and being close to the water means I don't have to spend time and energy carrying it... but the toilets smell bad!!!
"I feel safe in camp and know my children are safe."
Employing local people to do the work has also been very successful. Ravi is a plumber who has been working as an Oxfam engineer.
"I like working with Oxfam as it gives me a chance to work with foreign engineers. Some things I know already but we're doing good work supplying water and toilet facilities. There are good methods which are good for learning and experience. Even though we are working for a salary it is the work that is worth something for me. I'm really happy to do this and work hard... the hours aren't important, it's the work in the camps that counts."
Why should we keep providing safe water?
When natural disasters like the tsunami hit it's really important to make sure that people have access to clean water. While we can't prevent things like tidal waves and earthquakes from happening we can make sure that those affected are able to cook and clean without falling ill.
We want to make sure that everyone has the chance to be as clean and healthy as you, or maybe even cleaner!
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