The Long Road Ahead for Sri Lankans

Displaced Sri Lankan women make nutrition patties
for children in an LWR-supported community kitchen.

News reports proclaim that the fighting between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has ended. But for thousands of Sri Lankans who remain displaced—far away from home and family—the story does not end there.

They are still in dire need of our help. Many continue to live in overcrowded camps where there is not enough food or water. Children remain separated from their parents. People are weary and sick and wondering when this nightmare will end.

Our Sri Lanka Country Program Manager, K. Thampu, works with our partners on the ground to provide for the needs of people who must, for now, call a displacement camp their home. I pray you’ll read her words and let your hearts be moved to help.

Dear John,

After visiting the camps, I write to urge our supporters to continue helping the displaced people in Sri Lanka.

With the gifts we’ve received so far we’ve been able to feed thousands of people in the camps. We try to reach as many people as possible, providing food and water to newly arrived people and through community kitchens where many come to eat. But our supply of food is running low. If we do not act soon, our supplies will run out and people will begin to starve.

People desperately need water, for drinking and for washing. Lack of water has led to sanitation problems, causing the rapid spread of diseases like diarrhea and hepatitis. We are seeing more cases of these diseases and people are beginning to die from them.

I met one set of parents in particular whose story deeply touched my heart. Their daughter was very sick, so they took her to the small medical center at the camp. But the staff at the center did not speak Tamil, so the family could not understand the prescriptions or the treatment instructions and their child continued to worsen. The next closest medical facility was about 5 kilometers away. They managed to get on a bus going toward the hospital but unfortunately their daughter died just after arriving there.

My heart aches for this family, and for the many children in the camps who don’t have families to look after them. They are hungry and there is no one to feed them. They are ill and there is no one to care for them.

There is so much our supporters can do to help. Working with partners on the ground we can care for the people in the camps. We can ease the suffering of many. We can save lives.

I pray that many are moved to help the people of Sri Lanka during this difficult time and I give thanks for those who already contributed. Your kindness shows tremendous respect for the dignity of your brothers and sisters.

In thanks,

K. Thampu
LWR Country Program Manager
Sri Lanka


I urge you to make a contribution to the Sri Lanka Crisis fund. Your gift will save lives.

Thank you for your support of Lutheran World Relief and for the people of Sri Lanka.