Bishop of Jaffna, Dr. Thomas Savundaranayagam, urged the Sri Lankan government authorities to ensure the safety of the civilians and also appealed to all Catholics in the Jaffna peninsula to contribute to a relief fund to assist the internally displaced in Vanni.
Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Savundaranayagam described how nearly 200,000 civilians fled their homes because of the fighting between Sri Lankan army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in recent weeks.
The refugees, who have been driven to Kilinochchi district by the fighting, face a bleak situation, living rough and taking shelter under the trees.
“They have no place to stay and little to eat’’ said the Bishop.
“There is no shelter, no water, no toilets, no food, and no medical assistance,”
Tents and other essential items were not being allowed in to the area, even though they were desperately needed to provide shelter for the homeless.
The bishop also accused the Sri Lankan army of blocking the supply of food and medicine into Vanni through the Omanthai check point. He also hit out at the fact that medical aid was not being allowed through the check point to reach the homeless.
“The government is not permitting necessary medicine,” he said.
Although the Sri Lankan military has always adopted indiscriminate bombing and shelling as a tactic, in recent weeks it has stepped targeting civilian population centres including hospitals and schools.
“In this war the civilians are the ones who get hurt. May God preserve them in this on-going war.” the bishop added.
Meanwhilse, the critical situation in Vanni was discussed last Monday in a meeting organized by Jaffna Bishop Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundranayagam where the attendees decided to hold special mass on Sunday in all Catholic churches in the peninsula to pray for the IDPs and organize a relief fund.
Rev. Vasanthaseelan, the director of Caritias of the Social Economic Development Centre (SEDEC) for Vanni, in an interview to Catholic Guardian, said that in 15 days in July 50,000 people belonging to 9,175 families have been displaced from places including Muzhangkaavil, Mallaavi and Naachchikudaa .
The IDPs have sought refuge in the areas of Akkaraayan, Skanthapuram, Vannearikkulam and Koaddaikaddiyakulam in Kilinochchi district, he said.
The IDPs are in desperate need of temporary shelters, essential food, and medicine, and the funds raised will help to ease their suffering, he added.
