ASIA/SRI LANKA - German Children's relief organisation assisting victims of the floods which have affected more than a million people

Aachen (Agenzia Fides) – Since 9 January, strong, incessant rains have been a concern for many regions throughout Sri Lanka, especially in the east and north-east of the Country, where floods have affected more than a million people. “The Star Singers”, the children's relief organization of the Catholic Church in Germany, has raised 30,000 euros to send to the victims.
In a message sent to Fides, the organisation's national director said that with these funds “emergency aid packages were made for 670 families.” “In this way we will reach some 2,700 children,” said Dorothee Schmidt, head of Sri Lanka's national group. The parcels contain rice, pulses, milk powder and drinking water. In collaboration with Salesian priest, Fr Nihal Liyanange of the Holy Childhood Association in Sri Lanka, the focus will mainly be on regions in the north-east of the Country, where together with local partners, the distribution will be carried out from the region of Vavuniya.
The waters have destroyed or severely damaged the already weak infrastructure in the regions most affected. About 325,000 people have had to leave their homes and they have been placed in temporary accommodation. Many rice fields have been destroyed. “In a country where most people make their livings from agriculture this represents a serious problem,” said Dorothee Schmidt.
Since the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka in 2009, the Holy Childhood Association of Germany has been providing emergency aid for refugees, including providing psychological assistance for traumatized children and managing child protection programs. One of the major challenges in the near future will be the rebuilding of infrastructure and agriculture. (MS) (Agenzia Fides, 15/02/2011)