Church workers say Sri Lanka violence threatens long-term development
-26/04/06
The re
Church workers say Sri Lanka violence threatens long-term development
-26/04/06
The recent significant escalation in violence between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka is threatening tsunami reconstruction and long-term development work, says international agency Christian Aid.
Church and development organisations in the worst-affected area of Trincomalee, in the east of the country, have been unable to carry out any work for the past few days because of the volatile security situation.
Today [26 April 2006] there were reports of people fleeing their homes in eastern Sri Lanka as the military shelled Tamil Tiger targets.
The strikes followed a suicide attack on the army headquarters in Colombo on Tuesday which killed at least eight people and injured the army chief.
ìThe escalation in violence is threatening the ability of humanitarian agencies to continue with their tsunami rehabilitation and long-term development work in the north and east of the country,î said Ivan Kent, Christian Aidís Sri Lanka programme manager.
He continued: ìThese are areas that are already among the most poor and vulnerable in Sri Lanka and the violence is having a huge impact on the lives of civilians.î
Development workers in Batticaloa, also in the east, and Jaffna in the north, have been able to carry out some of their work but are being hampered by the tense situation.
Christian Aid ñ along with other church organisations ñ has urged both sides to return to peace talks in order to bring an end to the violence.
Even before the latest flare up, the eastern coastal belt was increasingly becoming more insecure making humanitarian work more difficult and dangerous.
In 2002 the government and the Tamil Tigers agreed a ceasefire in an attempt to end Sri Lankaís 20 year civil war that has cost 65,000 lives.
The tsunami that hit Sri Lanka in December 2005 devastated much of its coastline, including in the north and east, where there is a large tsunami reconstruction programme.
[Also on Ekklesia: Christians seek to keep hope alive for Sri Lanka peace talks; Christian Aid tsunami photo wins Time Magazine acclaim; Christians recycle tsunami rubble; Christians urged to stir up a storm in a tea cup; Millions mourn tsunami victims one year on; Sri Lanka church leaders call for end to violence; Archbishop speaks of fears over Sri Lanka; Church agency highlights killing of aid workers in Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka politician gunned down in Catholic cathedral]
Church workers say Sri Lanka violence threatens long-term development
-26/04/06
The recent significant escalation in violence between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka is threatening tsunami reconstruction and long-term development work, says international agency Christian Aid.
Church and development organisations in the worst-affected area of Trincomalee, in the east of the country, have been unable to carry out any work for the past few days because of the volatile security situation.
Today [26 April 2006] there were reports of people fleeing their homes in eastern Sri Lanka as the military shelled Tamil Tiger targets.
The strikes followed a suicide attack on the army headquarters in Colombo on Tuesday which killed at least eight people and injured the army chief.
ìThe escalation in violence is threatening the ability of humanitarian agencies to continue with their tsunami rehabilitation and long-term development work in the north and east of the country,î said Ivan Kent, Christian Aidís Sri Lanka programme manager.
He continued: ìThese are areas that are already among the most poor and vulnerable in Sri Lanka and the violence is having a huge impact on the lives of civilians.î
Development workers in Batticaloa, also in the east, and Jaffna in the north, have been able to carry out some of their work but are being hampered by the tense situation.
Christian Aid ñ along with other church organisations ñ has urged both sides to return to peace talks in order to bring an end to the violence.
Even before the latest flare up, the eastern coastal belt was increasingly becoming more insecure making humanitarian work more difficult and dangerous.
In 2002 the government and the Tamil Tigers agreed a ceasefire in an attempt to end Sri Lankaís 20 year civil war that has cost 65,000 lives.
The tsunami that hit Sri Lanka in December 2005 devastated much of its coastline, including in the north and east, where there is a large tsunami reconstruction programme.
[Also on Ekklesia: Christians seek to keep hope alive for Sri Lanka peace talks; Christian Aid tsunami photo wins Time Magazine acclaim; Christians recycle tsunami rubble; Christians urged to stir up a storm in a tea cup; Millions mourn tsunami victims one year on; Sri Lanka church leaders call for end to violence; Archbishop speaks of fears over Sri Lanka; Church agency highlights killing of aid workers in Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka politician gunned down in Catholic cathedral]