Wed Jan 08 14:53:53 UTC 2025: ## Madurai Refugee Camp Faces Sanitation Crisis Despite ODF Declaration
**Madurai, Tamil Nadu, January 8, 2025** – Over 2,000 Sri Lankan refugees residing in a camp at Thiruvathavur in Madurai district are facing a severe sanitation crisis, despite the district being declared open defecation-free (ODF) in 2017. Health activist A. Veronica Mary reports that only 20 of the camp’s toilets are functional, leaving hundreds of men, women, and children with no option but open defecation.
The camp, established in 2003, initially had seven toilets. While ten more were added in 2022 with the construction of new housing, the inadequate facilities and poor maintenance have resulted in a critical shortage. This has led to recurring health problems, particularly among women, who suspect infections are linked to the unsanitary conditions.
The situation is further exacerbated by other infrastructural deficiencies. The camp’s houses feature asbestos roofing, posing significant health risks, alongside issues with untreated water and overall uncleanliness. The activist highlighted that the asbestos, known to cause serious diseases, is damaged and cracked in many homes.
Despite a tragic incident in 2014 where a child died due to a collapsing building, conditions in the camp have not improved significantly. While officials claim regular visits and repairs as funds allow, the refugees continue to endure substandard living conditions. The long-term residents, many of whom have lived in the camp for over two decades, are pleading for urgent intervention to address the critical sanitation and health concerns.
First Piper 