Children in the conflict zone queue for food. Photo: Tearfund
22 April 2009
Tearfund partners are feeding thousands of hungry Sri Lankan civilians fleeing intense fighting between government forces and the Tamil Tigers.
Tens of thousands of people have escaped the conflict zone in the country’s north east in recent days as the offensive against the rebels nears its climax.
The Tigers now control only a narrow strip of land on the east coast as government forces have made steady advances since their military push against the separatists began last January.
However the UN remains deeply concerned about the civilians unable to escape the war zone and has condemned the army’s use of heavy weapons inside it.
Conditions within the zone are said to be atrocious with food shortages causing severe hunger. People are living in tents and facing inadequate access to water and sanitation.
Community kitchens
Tearfund is funding three partners as they respond to the humanitarian crisis left in the wake of the conflict.
One partner, Leads, is supporting 15,000 people in camps in Vavuniya where it is running 14 community kitchens and providing supplementary food to boost nutrition among vulnerable groups, such as malnourished children.
Leads is also building individual shelters for 100 families and five community shelters to serve the wider population in Jaffna. In all 3,000 people are being assisted.
A new government camp for people displaced by conflict. Photo: Tearfund
With a grant of £100,000 from Tearfund, Leads is working in coordination with local government authorities and is relying on church volunteers for some support.
Another partner, Habitat for Humanity, is building 100 shelters in a camp at Mannar set up by the government for displaced people. The durable raw materials will also be useful for when people ultimately return to their homes,
Church volunteers
Even in times of emergency, partners are considering environmental issues. Habitat for Humanity is providing solar cookers for family food preparation and also constructing biogas toilets – meeting the need for good sanitation and for lighting.
Almost 11,000 people who’ve been treated at hospitals near to Trincomalee have received food, water, clothing, sheets and hygiene packs from our partner World Concern which has been given £80,000 from Tearfund and has been getting support on the ground from local church volunteers.
A ship bringing in more injured people for treatment at hospitals near Trincomalee. Photo: Tearfund
The hospital has been receiving the war wounded, transported to the area by ship, with up to 500 people arriving per vessel several times a week.
Tearfund’s Clare Crawford said, `Our partners are helping thousands of people in dire need thanks to the generous support for our Sri Lanka emergency appeal.
` But with tens of thousands still fleeing the fighting and the final military push expected imminently, the need for help remains great and all our partners could use a lot more money.’