The north of Vaharai, along the east coast of Sri Lanka, is one of the most underdeveloped areas in Batticaloa district according to local resident Kannapan Sivalin. Most of the people living here have suffered displacement and hardship caused by both the tsunami and Sri Lanka's long running internal conflict. Now finally resettled in her village, Sivalin, a widow and mother of three, is a beneficiary of a Red Cross recovery programme that is taking a holistic approach towards rebuilding not only homes, but also local infrastructure, water and sanitation facilities and livelihood opportunities.

Under the Red Cross and UN Habitat-led Community Recovery and Reconstruction Partnership (CRRP) programme, funds were provided to tsunami-affected beneficiaries to reconstruct their own houses, toilets and wells in Vaharai. The local community also took part in awareness programmes on hygiene and sanitation - vital in areas where water quality is poor for some communities living along the coastline.

Many do not have a safe water and with no main water supply scheme they face long walks to fetch clean water and endure prolonged periods of water scarcity during the dry season. So when ceramic water filters were distributed to selected beneficiaries of the CRRP in Vaharai by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS), it made a big difference.

"In our area, we face severe shortages of clean water for drinking and cooking. In my lifetime, this is the first time I heard about water purification and water filters. This is also the first time my children and I have a chance to drink pure and clean water." says Sivalin.

According to Kannan Pasupathiraj, the CRRP Water and Sanitation Coordinator, families previously resorted to drinking water from unsafe sources which exposed them to waterborne diseases and children were especially vulnerable.

"A lot of families spent a lot of time and energy collecting firewood from the jungles adjacent to the villages for boiling water. This took almost the same quantity of wood needed for cooking. The water filter programme not only provides safe drinking water, but also plays a role in safe-guarding the environment."

Storing and sanitizing water through a compact filtering system is a novel feature for the villagers living in Vaharai. It is easy to use and enough water can be stored for safe daily consumption. The CRRP programme has also helped families build their own individual wells within the boundary of their homes. Since it is usually women who are responsible for collecting water in the area, having a safe drinking water source nearby also means that they can now devote more time other income generation activities.

All the beneficiaries received training on how to use, clean and maintain the filters and education on personal hygiene which included hand washing with soap, food preparation and storage and information about water-borne diseases. SLRCS volunteers also carry out inspections to check if families are using them correctly.

The filters have proven to be such a success that there is greater demand for them in areas that do not even fall under the CRRP programme. As a result, the SLRCS is now hoping to sell extra filters as an income-generating activity for the branch.

So far, 3995 water filters have been distributed in Batticaloa, Ampara, Colombo and Kalutara under the Red Cross-UN Habitat led CRRP programme.