Silver Spring, Maryland--Through the continued work of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), more than 47,000 Sri Lankans refugees who fled to India due to the ongoing civil war in their homeland will receive assistance, including better access to clean water and enhanced sanitation, personal hygiene classes, and waste management training.

The 12-month long Water Environment Sanitation and Shelter (WESS) project, valued at more than $707,000 and funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) through the ADRA Germany office, is improving access to clean water in 67 camps throughout the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The projects is helping install water pumps and tanks, build and refurbish latrines, and improve the existing surface drainage system. ADRA is also providing community and household bins, establishing compost beds, and equipping waste management services with the tools necessary to maintain a sanitary environment.

"ADRA India's intervention on water and sanitation for our community has made a drastic change in providing us a hygienic environment," said Annalakshmi, a 32-year old project beneficiary living in the Vazhavanthankottai camp in Tamil Nadu. "I feel proud being a member of our refugee camp and I hope ADRA India will be with us all the way to achieving our dreams of making our community a model one."

In the same region, ADRA is also building new shelters and improving existing ones, and providing training on accident risk mitigation. ADRA's projects have increased the capacity of refugees by teaching them how to support themselves financially through various livelihood activities and maintain a better level of health through education, training, and facilities improvement.

"We are committed to continuing to offer humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka's most deprived and disadvantaged people living in the refuge camps, as long as it's needed," said Paulo Lopes, country director for ADRA India.

Since 1983, Sri Lanka has been entangled in a long and bitter war between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commonly known as the Tamil Tigers, who have been fighting for an independent homeland in the northeastern part of this island-nation. As of November 2007, there were at least 131,000 Sri Lankan refugees in India, of which 111,000 arrived before 2002, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Recently, a surge in the fighting has left more than 1,000 soldiers and civilians dead, and caused the displacement of an additional 135,000 people, mostly of Tamil origin from northeastern areas of Sri Lanka. UNHCR estimates that nearly 23,000 people have crossed into India to seek refuge.

Since 2006, ADRA India has supported Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu, largely as a result of financing partnerships with ECHO, New Zealand's International Aid and Development Agency (NZAID), ADRA Norway, ADRA Germany, and ADRA New Zealand.

To assist in ADRA's response benefitting Sri Lankan refugees in India, contributions can be made to the Refugee and Displaced Person Fund by calling 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or giving online at www.adra.org

ADRA India was officially registered in 1992. It currently works in the areas of Health, Emergency Management, Economic Development, Education, Water and Sanitation, Environment, Anti-Human Trafficking, and Gender Equality.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

Author: Nadia McGill Media Contact: John Torres, Senior Public Relations Manager, ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.6357 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org