Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - “The Tamil civilians affected by the violent conflict underway are experiencing a second tsunami”: this is the advisory being sent out by Fr. Ajith Perera, a priest from Trincolmalee who has been at the Tamil refugee camps during the past few days, helping the people with material and spiritual support.
Through a testimony sent to Agenzia Fides, Fr. Perera tells of the dramatic conditions of the Tamil civilians who are fleeing the war zones: “They have nothing, they are worn out and desperate. We bring the Catholic volunteers consolation and hope, as well as humanitarian aid. I celebrate Mass for the Catholics, who have not been able to attend a Mass for weeks. They are hungry, but not only for food but for spiritual comfort. Many have lost close relatives, which is a tragedy in addition to the tragedy they are already living. The people are worn down. It is as though they have passed through a second tsunami. But this time, the fault does not belong to nature but to the war, which has brought suffering, death, misery, and despair.”
In the areas of the Northwest, where there is a continuous movement of Tamil refugees, the local Caritas is doing all it can to provide humanitarian relief, thanks as well to the International Caritas network. The Director of Caritas Sri Lanka, Fr. Damien Fernando, affirmed that the Catholic volunteers will continue to provide food, water, and medicine on a constant basis, while the government is being asked to cease military action and relaunch the negotiation process.
“The civilians are paying the highest price of the war,” Fr. Fernando said. “In recent weeks, over 130,000 evacuees reached the areas controlled by the government, after months of suffering and flight. Many are severely wounded, however the hospital is completely full. The biggest challenge is trying to find help for the survivors. Caritas is doing all it can, along with many humanitarian organizations. Priests, religious, and laity are dedicating all their efforts to help those in need.”
For some time now, Caritas has been asking that international codes for civilian protection in time of war be respected. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/4/2009)
