April 23, 2009
As the ongoing conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam narrows to a smaller stretch of land, hundreds of thousands of civilians, many of them children, remain at great risk in the conflict zone.
In the past week, more than 40,000 people have fled their homes in the north. Civilians fleeing the conflict area are seeking safety in temporary displacement camps where the need for medicines, food, water and shelter is rapidly growing.
“We know from those who have fled earlier, that these new waves of internally displaced survivors will be in great need, having been caught in the middle of a war zone for weeks. There is great need for medicines, food and shelter,” says Suresh Bartlett, World Vision Lanka’s National Director.
Sponsored Children Unaffected
Canadians sponsor 17,500 children in Sri Lanka through World Vision. These children live in communities in the southeast and southwest of the country and are not directly affected by the conflict in the north.
However, this conflict is having a profound impact on the lives of children in the area, with an estimated 300,000 children affected by the war.
World Vision in the Camps
Prior to the exodus on April 20, more than 65,000 people were accommodated in camps in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna, Mannar and Vavuniya districts. The majority of these are housed in 16 camps in the Vavuniya district and World Vision is currently working in all these sites.
In recent weeks, food packets have been provided to more than 25,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), and preparations are underway to address the needs of some 60,000 IDPs. On a daily basis, nearly 70,000 litres of water are being distributed across various camp locations where those who have already been displaced are being cared for. Medical-care packs have been distributed to 700 families.
World Vision is also working to set up shelter and Child Friendly Spaces with activities for hundreds of children affected by the conflict. Breastfeeding tents have now been set up in every campsite across Vavuniya district.
World Vision Calls for Humanitarian Assistance
World Vision continues to call on all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint and give priority to the protection and care of all civilians. The organization calls on Canada to provide increased humanitarian assistance to affected children and communities.
World Vision also advocates that Canada support the government of Sri Lanka in taking immediate steps to outline a durable peace process and plan that addresses the root causes of the conflict.
How You Can Help
World Vision is currently raising funds with the goal of helping 60,000 children and their family members who have been affected by fighting in Sri Lanka.
If you would like to help, you can
make a donation to help children and their families in Sri Lanka.
