ACN gives help as fighting in Sri Lanka forces 300,000 to flee

The Bishop of Sri Lanka's stricken northern peninsula has thanked Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need, for sending emergency help as violence forces whole communities to flee their homes.

Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam of Jaffna praised Aid to the Church in Need for giving £23,600 in emergency help after reports of 300,000 people displaced following the latest stand-off between the Colombo-based Sri Lankan army and separatist Tamil forces.

Despite increasing concerns of a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the threat of malaria, the Sri Lankan government has refused outside help and has banned NGOs from entering the militarised area.

But with a strong Catholic presence across the troubled region, the Church is able to channel aid to those worst affected.

Highlighting the Church's commitment to providing rice, lentils, dairy products and coconuts, Bishop Savundaranayagam sent a message to ACN, saying: "Once again I thank [Aid to the Church in Need] for the prompt help. Let us pray for the safety of the displaced people."

Bishop Savundaranayagam described how many refugees are falling seriously ill.

He told the charity how sanitation problems mean that stomach illnesess and malaria are rife among the people.

The bishop added: "Tarpaulin sheets are in short supply since the army is restricting the amount brought [in]."

At least 20 people have died from snake bites, a serious threat during the rainy season.

The crisis erupted after the Sri Lankan army captured Mannar district from the rebels in August and turned north-west, launching campaigns in the Mulathivu and Kilinochchy districts.

Bishop Savundaranayagam told ACN how the number of refugees has grown dramatically over the last few months.

He wrote: "The displaced people are mostly from the Mulathivu District which is very extensive and the number of people is 167,000 - about 27,000 families."

Numbers fleeing the Kilinochchy and Mannar districts have risen to 129,000.

Since 1983, there has been sporadic conflict between the government and separatist rebels in the north, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who are fighting for the creation of an independent state.