UCAN REPORT: reporter, kilinochchiSri Lanka
December 23, 2011
Church rushes to join aid efforts to help victims of new disaster . The Catholic Church has joined relief efforts to provide aid for up to 38,000 people displaced by severe flooding that has hit the north of the country this week.
More than 11,000 families have been affected in Northern Province, according to the government-run Disaster Management Center, which has set up 41 welfare centers to help the victims.
Caritas-Vanni and Don Bosco centers are also providing aid to victims who fled their homes in Kilinochchi and Mullativu districts after the downpours began on Monday.
“Kilinochchi, Thiruwaiyaru, Wattakachchi, Kandarawalai were the worst affected areas and are under water,” said Father Devadas Judedas, Parish priest of St. Joseph Church in Kilinochchi.
Flood victims are getting hot meals while Caritas Vanni and other organizations have to decide on what other steps to take, he said.
Around 14,500 people were displaced in Kilinochchi alone, the Disaster Management Center said.
Father Arockiyasamy, head of the Don Bosco center in Kilinochchi said his organization is providing food parcels for the victims.
“They are being distributed with the help of the local government,” he said.
Many of the victims, still trying to recover from years of civil war, said the floods have destroyed their lives yet again.
“We have faced so many difficulties these past years,” said Anjeli Devi, 40, in Wattakachchi.
“After being resettled after the war we took out loans so we could rebuild our livelihoods, but everything was destroyed by this flood. I think this must be our fate,” Devi said.
“We have limited resources to combat natural disasters,” he lamented
http://www.ucanews.com/2011/12/23/floods-displace-thousands-in-north/
Caritas-Vanni and Don Bosco centers are also providing aid to victims who fled their homes in Kilinochchi and Mullativu districts after the downpours began on Monday.
“Kilinochchi, Thiruwaiyaru, Wattakachchi, Kandarawalai were the worst affected areas and are under water,” said Father Devadas Judedas, Parish priest of St. Joseph Church in Kilinochchi.
Flood victims are getting hot meals while Caritas Vanni and other organizations have to decide on what other steps to take, he said.
Around 14,500 people were displaced in Kilinochchi alone, the Disaster Management Center said.
Father Arockiyasamy, head of the Don Bosco center in Kilinochchi said his organization is providing food parcels for the victims.
“They are being distributed with the help of the local government,” he said.
Many of the victims, still trying to recover from years of civil war, said the floods have destroyed their lives yet again.
“We have faced so many difficulties these past years,” said Anjeli Devi, 40, in Wattakachchi.
“After being resettled after the war we took out loans so we could rebuild our livelihoods, but everything was destroyed by this flood. I think this must be our fate,” Devi said.
“We have limited resources to combat natural disasters,” he lamented
http://www.ucanews.com/2011/12/23/floods-displace-thousands-in-north/
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