German grant for drought relief work in Muttur
The German embassy in Colombo gave Rs 2.9 million as humanitarian
assistance to drought affected families in Muttur.
German ambassador to Sri Lanka Dr Juergen Morhard (far left)
hands over a cheque for Rs 2.9 million to representatives
from the Coordinating Centre for Community Development in
Muttur for a drought relief project in Muttur. Picture
courtesy: German embassy, Colombo |
The project is implemented by the Coordinating Centre for Community
Development (3CD), a community based organisation that has undertaken
safe drinking-water projects to serve displaced communities since 2007.
The project focuses on constructing water tanks in schools and
villages in Muttur where the wells have either dried up or become saline
due to the drought during the past six months.
Coordinating Centre for Community Development General Secretary A W M
Buhari said it is a sustainable project that will help the communities
to have a secure supply of water.
“About 80 percent of the people living in Muttur don't have a well in
their garden and therefore, they have to travel several miles to get
water from a public well,” Buhari said. “But the water quality is
questionable. As per the report from the Muttur Medical Officer for
Health Systems (MOH), 75 percent of the water sources contain more than
the average e. coli bacteria and high level of nitrite, phosphate and
other chemicals.” The project provides funds for power-generators, so
that three water purification plants in the area can operate round the
clock without being stalled by intermittent power cuts. German
ambassador to Sri Lanka Dr Juergen Morhard said the German government
was happy to be able to react immediately to provide relief to the
people, who have been affected by the drought.
“The severe drought has also destroyed the livelihoods of thousands
of people, had an impact on food security and affected the overall
economic growth forecast of this island,” Dr Morhard said. “Germany as a
long-standing friend of this country is pleased to be able to assist Sri
Lankans in this time of need.”
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