Situation
Multiple displacements have disrupted the education of at least 60,000 children in Sri Lanka. Photo: Brennon Jones/IRIN. Photo courtesy of IRIN News. The humanitarian crisis in northern Sri Lanka is intense and rapidly changing for civilians trapped between the warring sides within the combat zone and displaced to surrounding government-controlled areas. Local infrastructure and communication systems in Sri Lanka have been destroyed as a result of the 25-year-old conflict.
In late April 2009, an exodus of approximately 100,000 people was triggered when increased fighting between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) occurred in the government sponsored safe zone.
According to initial reports by the United Nations Refugee Agency, approximately 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are in urgent need for basic items.
PDA Response
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is responding to the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka as a member of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) international network. ACT is a global alliance of churches and other agencies.
ACT members, together with local partners, are assisting displaced people sheltered in 12 IDP camps in the surrounding districts of Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Mannar and Jaffna.
One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds are helping provide basic humanitarian necessities including food and nutrition, water and sanitation, non-food and hygiene items and protection activities for families living in IDP camps.
Children have been killed injured and traumatized in the conflict zones. According to UNICEF, more than one in four children now in transits sites are malnourished. Photo: IRIN contributor. Photo courtesy of IRIN News. Specific Response
Some of the specific activities PDA funds are supporting include:
- Full dependency on food items in camps: The majority of IDPs in camps are not permitted to leave the camps and are therefore fully dependent on external support. The World Food Program (WFP) supplies standard dry rations and staple food through the government but IDPs are in need of supplementary food.
- Non-food relief items: Most IDPs left all their belongings behind them when fleeing. As part of the screening process, the Sri Lankan armed forces did not allow individual and family belongings to be taken into the camps. Unmet urgent needs include health and hygiene kits, sleeping materials and basic cooking utensils.
- Health and medical: Access to health and medical assistance is greatly needed given restrictions on IDP movements, the impact of trauma and unhygienic conditions. Special attention needs to be given to meeting women’s specific needs. For example, UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund) reported 36 pregnant women out of 736 residents at one IDP camp. This represents 4.8 percent of the camp population in need of special care and attention.
- Trauma counseling: There is general frustration or stress among IDPs, with some suffering from depression and severe anxiety.
- School facilities and structured activities for children: Maintaining education and educational standards has been a challenge where schools are used as emergency shelter sites. Many students, including students from host communities, miss classes and exams due to insecurity and lack of capacity and resources. For IDPs in relatively safe zones, providing continuing alternative classes as a means to mitigate the effects of war on children is vital and part of the psychological support to children, aiming at rebuilding normality and facilitating return.
What you can do
At least 200,000 people have been displaced in Sri Lanka. Photo: ACT International. Photo courtesy of IRIN News. You can stand in the gap for disaster survivors and help the church in this response.
GIVE. The generous sharing of your financial blessings through the One Great Hour of Sharing offering and special designated giving provides the resources needed to meet the basic humanitarian needs of displaced families.
Individuals may give through their local Presbyterian congregation, on the secure PC(USA) Web site, or by sending their check to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
Please include the special designated giving account DR999999 – International Response
Congregations should send donations through their normal mission giving channels.
ACT. Stay informed. Sign up to receive PDA-RIN notices to alert you of additional needs.
PRAY. Please continue in prayer for all who have been affected by the ongoing civil conflict.
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