Caritas pledges support for people of Sri Lanka

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has pledged NZ$50,000 to support civilian victims in Sri Lanka's civil war, as the government closes in on Tamil Tiger rebels in the north.

Caritas Director Mike Smith says the funds will contribute to a Caritas Internationalis appeal for NZ$4.35 million to help 100,000 people with food, water, medicines, shelter and trauma counselling.

Mr Smith says it's extremely distressing that the civil war has come to this point with hundreds of thousands of civilians lacking protection. "Our partner Caritas Sri Lanka reports that tens of thousands remain trapped in rebel-held territory, while more than 130,000 have fled to government-run camps where military forces are preoccupied with security and fears of rebel infiltration," says Mr Smith. Read more ...