Catholics raise money for refugees

Published Date: June 3, 2009

Parishioners of Colombo cathedral have been busy fundraising for war refugees by selling hot foods, home-made pickles and household items at an evening family fiesta here.

St Lucia’s Cathedral’s Mothers’ Front
selling food to raise funds for war victims

Cries of “pancakes,” “kokis,” “kevum,” “pot curries” and “country rice” resounded along the line of 15 stalls in St Lucia´s cathedral as part of a Marian feast and procession on May 31, attended by about 5,000 people.

Despite the festive atmosphere, the purpose of the fundraising was clear.

“It´s a heartbreaking situation. We must help displaced relatives,” parish priest Father Tony Martyn told his congregation.

His appeal came as the country celebrates the end of 25 years of civil war as the government declared victory over the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Many religious centers in the southern part of the country have been collecting relief items and sending them to refugee camps spread over thousands of hectares of dry land in the country´s far north.

More than 300,000 displaced, wounded and sick are being accommodated in 40 emergency camps across the districts of Vavuniya, Jaffna, and Trincomalee, under military guard.

According to the priests at the cathedral, the humanitarian crisis in the crowded camps is growing. They point to state reports that 3,000 pregnant women are housed in those camps and 32 percent of the displaced are children under 15 years.

Philip Nesaselvam, a member of the cathedral´s Fathers´ Association, who was seen selling detergent during the fundraising drive, said, “There is a palpable sense of worry in the Christian community about the plight of the refugees.”

There is also growing concern within Church circles about restricted access to the camps for international aid groups, including the United Nations and the Red Cross.

The Church has been a vital source of aid throughout the 25 years of fighting. Caritas-Sri Lanka, the Church´s welfare arm, has worked in every diocese to help contribute essential items for war victims as well as ongoing rehabilitation for war widows, orphans and other children.

Salesian priests and lay people have also recently sent truckloads of clothes and other amenities to be distributed to a camp at an undisclosed location.

According to the priests, who work with youths, the government has asked them to take in about 500 rescued child soldiers who have nowhere to go. The congregation has accepted the request and is working on a plan to open rehabilitation centers for these children.

In response to Pope Benedict XVI´s appeal for aid to Sri Lanka, the Italian bishops´ conference has pledged 1 million euros (US$1.4 million) to Caritas-Sri Lanka.

Caritas has also allocated extra staff to deal with the present situation. Its Jaffna division is the only organization providing free food for war victims in Jaffna, while 70 Caritas staff are working in the camps.

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