Caritas distributes aid to fishing families in Sri Lanka

CARITAS distributed permanent homes, fishing boats and supplies to families in Sri Lanka devastated by civil war.

Father Arulanandam Yavis, head of Caritas Kilinochchi, presided over a ceremony held at St. Anne’s Church in Valaipadu on February 19.

“Fifty boats, outboard engines, nets, other accessories and 22 permanent houses were given out to families to help them return to a normal life,” he said. “This is life support for displaced and homeless people.”

The project was funded by donations from Caritas Sweden and Caritas Luxemburg, the priest added. Annina Feller, program manager of Caritas Sweden, KS Vasantha Kumar, divisional government secretary, and Fr. George Sigamony, Caritas national director, also participated in the ceremony.

“We have selected beneficiaries on the criteria of widows, female heads of families, disabled members in the family and more female children in the family,” Father Yavis said.

Nearly 2,000 displaced people remain in need of permanent shelter in war-ravaged areas of the country, according to government data.

Ganamma Emmanuel, 52, mother of six, said her family fled fighting in her home village in 2002 and lived in several refugee camps ever since.

Report from ucanews.com