Innocent Children - the real victims in Sri Lanka's 26 year war

Eight year old Aparna looked up at me as I approached; a far away look in her eyes; she said a shy "hello" and for a fleeting moment, her face lit up in a beautiful frame of curls. The next minute she was gone seeking refuge behind her mother's skirt, and peering at me from her position of 'safety'.

Aparna is just one of tens of thousands of innocent children whose lives have been profoundly affected by the 26 year long conflict in Sri Lanka which now appears to be nearing its end. Her family is among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) numbering over 190,000 who fled the conflict zone and are now accommodated in camps in northern Sri Lanka.

A visit to the IDP camps strikes a chord in ones' heart as you see how much the innocent children have suffered. It is truly saddening to meet the displaced children, they still manage a smile, but the once bright eyes are now glazed over and they are visibly drained after their countless ordeals over the last few years. Read more ...