Caritas has launched a recovery program in one of the areas worst affected by the lengthy civil war to restore the livelihoods of war affected families.

A government official praised the efforts of Caritas, the Church’s social arm in Sri Lanka, yesterday at a meeting of clergy and some of the 95 families that will benefit from the scheme.

“Caritas is the first organization to come forward to assist IDPs [internally displaced people],” said Basil Rajapaksa, minister of economic development and chairman of the presidential task force on resettlement.

Rajapaksa said Caritas was the first organization which got approval by the government to build up housing scheme for IDPs in the Northern Province.

Housing for war victims built by Caritas Sri Lanka at Selvapuram in Mullaitivu district cost R450,000 (US$4,128) each.

Bishop of Jaffna Thomas Savundranayagam thanked the government for its assistance in rehabilitation, reconstruction and livelihood programs.

“We hope and pray that very soon the entire community in the district will be back to normal life with all facilities,” he said.