ECONOMYNEXT – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has started a project in Sri Lanka to provide clean water to communities affected by disasters and chronic kidney diseases.
The Rs. 150 million ($1 million) program expands upon several previous USAID projects that provided sustainable access to drinking water in the South, East and North prone to droughts and floods, a statement said.
“The project’s scope includes building rainwater harvesting tanks, providing pipe-borne drinking water facilities, and renovating local infrastructure to reduce the effects of floods and droughts,” it said.
Locations of rainwater harvesting tanks will be prioritized for families and hospitals affected by the rising challenge of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) in the country.
The program, expected to benefit 100,000 people, will support national and regional-level policies to minimize the impact of such disasters, while helping local communities adopt sustainable solutions for disaster-related water and hygiene needs, USAID said.
USAID is partnering with Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum (LRWHF), a local organization with 20 years of experience introducing simple and inexpensive options for safe, potable water.
The new project will target communities in the North, East, and Uva province exposed to frequent natural disasters. Palm Foundation will provide communities in the Eastern province with pipe water, rainwater harvesting tanks, and local training.
(COLOMBO, Jan 09, 2016)
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