Urgent Appeal – help the displaced civilians in Vanni!!! “I was hungry and you would not feed me, thirsty and you would not give me a drink......... whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me” (Mathew 25:42/45) What is happening in the Vanni? According to the Bishop of Mannar, who visited Vanni recently, nearly 150,000 people are displaced in the Vanni. UN reports had indicated about 80,000 displaced in July – August alone due to military operations of the Sri Lankan armed forces Some people live in schools, churches and other buildings, while many live in the open air, on the roadside and under trees. Food, medicine and shelter materials are in short supply due to restrictions imposed by the government Physical security of local staff of aid agencies and civilians is in serious jeopardy after UN agencies and international NGOs to vacated the Vanni on the orders of the government About 75 schools and about 13,000 children have been displaced The GCE Advanced level examination and Scholarship Exams were held amidst this war Several hospitals have also been displaced There are also concerns that the provision of essential food, medicine is limited and is not reaching those in need The severe restriction on fuel and resulting exorbitant prices (1 litre of petrol is about Rs. 1,200) has made in even more difficult for people to move, and this had also made it difficult to provide health services and water through bowsers Forced recruitment by the LTTE continues The LTTE has also placed restrictions on people to leave from the Vanni to government controlled areas People also fear to cross to government controlled areas as around 700 people that have fled the Vanni continue to be confined to camps in the Mannar district Sri Lanka Telecom phones lines in the Vanni have been cut and families are unable to find out about wellbeing and whereabouts of their relatives. Communication problems also affects the work of religious and aid agencies
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Urgent Appeal – help the displaced civilians in Vanni!!!
“I was hungry and you would not feed me, thirsty and you would not give me a drink.........whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me” (Mathew 25:42/45)
What is happening in the Vanni?
According to the Bishop of Mannar, who visited Vanni recently, nearly 150,000 people are displaced in the Vanni. UN reports had indicated about 80,000 displaced in July – August alone due to military operations of the Sri Lankan armed forces
Some people live in schools, churches and other buildings, while many live in the open air, on the roadside and under trees.
Food, medicine and shelter materials are in short supply due to restrictions imposed by the government
Physical security of local staff of aid agencies and civilians is in serious jeopardy after UN agencies and international NGOs to vacated the Vanni on the orders of the government
About 75 schools and about 13,000 children have been displaced
The GCE Advanced level examination and Scholarship Exams were held amidst this war
Several hospitals have also been displaced There are also concerns that the provision
of essential food, medicine is limited and is not reaching those in need
The severe restriction on fuel and resulting exorbitant prices (1 litre of petrol is about Rs. 1,200) has made in even more difficult for people to move, and this had also made it difficult to provide health services and water through bowsers
Forced recruitment by the LTTE continues The LTTE has also placed restrictions on
people to leave from the Vanni to government controlled areas
People also fear to cross to government controlled areas as around 700 people that have fled the Vanni continue to be confined to camps in the Mannar district
Sri Lanka Telecom phones lines in the Vanni have been cut and families are unable to find out about wellbeing and whereabouts of their relatives. Communication problems also affects the work of religious and aid agencies
What can we do?
Organize special prayer services, particularly inter-faith and ecumenical services
Organize discussions, exhibitions and other events to create awareness about the actual situation
Organize public events, such as vigils, silent protests, marches etc.
Make financial contributions towards the provision of essential items such as food, medicine, shelter
Call on the government to:o Ensure protection of civilians if they remain in Vanni, creation of “safe zones” where no
attacks will be launchedo Access and safety for humanitarian worker, particularly for international agencies and their
staff,o Easing of restrictions on essential itemso Incase people come to government controlled areas, ensure their freedom of movement and
respect their choice of place to reside
Call on the LTTE to:o Ensure protection of civilians in the Vanni, particularly by not using them as human shields and
creating “safe zones”o Cooperate and respect “humanitarian corridors” for movement of displaced people,
humanitarian agencies and humanitarian supplies o Ensure freedom of movement for civilians to leave for government controlled areas if they
wish too Ensure access and safety of humanitarian workers, particularly local staffo Ensure respect for humanitarian supplies and assets
“I have come to bring good news to the poor, to set the oppressed free”
What would be good news to the people in Vanni today? What can we do to bring that good news?
For further details, please contact:The Christian Solidarity Movement, C/o 281, Deans Road, Colombo 10
Rev. Noel Fernando, 2607121 / 2673904 / [email protected] / [email protected] Rev. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda, 071-4315124 / 2909924 / [email protected] Rev. Fr. Rohan Silva, OMI, 071-4250276 / [email protected] Freddy Gamage 0777-275171 / 031-2235089 / [email protected] Ainslie Joseph 0776-321935 / 2718347 / [email protected]
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