SRI LANKA SITUATION ESCALATES

JRS staff caught in fierce bombing in Muthur

Increased fighting and clashes in the North and East of Sri Lanka have dashed any hope of a ceasefire. The escalating violence has prompted a mass exodus of people, mainly on foot, amidst severe insecurity and tension, to seek safer ground. The fate of many is unknown and humanitarian aid to those injured or left behind has been denied. Many volunteers, including JRS staff, are exposed to very vulnerable situations. Below is a personal account from Nisha, a JRS coordinator in Muthur, an area which came under attack recently.

On the 1st August, 2006 I was traveling from Iruthayapuram (a Catholic Tamil village) to Muthur along with Fr. Ignatius, the Parish priest of Muthur. On that day Rev. Sr. Enit, the Apostolic convent sister from Muthur, was celebrating her feast day so I went to the convent to wish her a happy feast day. I stayed in the convent for the night.

The next day around 2am, we heard the sounds of bombing and shelling. We were so frightened we stayed inside the convent with the sisters and 22 orphaned children. The bombing and shelling continued the whole day. The Tamil population of Muthur came to St. Anthony's church for safety. The convent is next to it. But unfortunately shelling started coming into the church and a fourth standard boy, Aravind, was having his meal and was hit by a shell and died on the spot. Three women were wounded and they were taken to Trincomalee hospital in two ambulances. Their family members followed them. When one of the ambulances reached the 64th mile post, it was hit by a shell and the driver's wife died on the spot. The rest were rescued and send to Batticaloa hospital by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam).

The fighting continued for the next three days. Since the people felt the church was not safe, all the people moved to the convent. They had nothing to eat and were starving. I had Rs.8000/- in my hand and I handed it over to the sisters to buy the necessary food materials. Near the convent, World Vision has a store. They opened the store room and distributed the food to the people. We were so afraid, we were unable to eat. We could see the movements of the LTTE and heard that the LTTE had taken over Muthur.
 

I thought that I may not see any of you (JRS staff) again. When heavy shelling was taking place, I asked the boy who was walking with me what they would do if I was wounded? Before he could answer the shell hit him and he died on the spot. I am feeling much better after talking with you all. God has given me a second life and I want to spend my life in a meaningful way. - Nisha

Children from refugee camps

Note from Fr. Vinny Joseph, JRS Country Director, Sri Lanka
I and my staff members were worried since we couldn't make contact with Nisha after 2nd August. We were relieved when we heard her voice on the phone on the 5th around 10 pm when she was travelling towards Trincomalee. Nisha has lost her aunt but she could make contact with her parents and they are safe. On the 6th she attended the office in Trincomalee and started working in the city camps. The other staffs are also safe and they are in St. Joseph's college camp.

Displacement from Ichalampathai to Katheraveli (Vaharai), Batticaloa
Nearly 9000 families have been displaced during the last two days from Ichalampathai to Katheraveli. On 8th August our Batticaloa coordinator was not allowed to go to Katheraveli. We have heard the news from our Vaharai coordinator that the people are starving. Today our coordinator is going there with relief materials.

Displacement in Mannar
Parapankandal is the border village in Mannar. Because of the heavy shelling in that area, people are displaced to Kuruvil and Kathankulam. They are staying in the Catholic churches. JRS has distributed relief materials like rice, sugar, milk powder, tea bags to the Kathankulam IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and ZOA (another NGO) is taking care of Kuruvil IDP's.
- Fr. Vinny Joseph, Country Director, Sri Lanka