Sri Lanka Damaged Churches provide shelter as refugees trickle home

(November 07, 2009) Tamil refugees are slowly returning to their villages six months after fighting ended in the country's 26-year civil war. But many are returning to find their homes ruined and are seeking refuge in damaged churches. The government says it is finally speeding up the resettlement process. Refugees are gradually being released from detention camps in Menik Farm, about 30 kilometres southwest of Vavuniya city in the north, to their villages in the former war zone. Father Santhia Joy Peppi Sosai, director of Caritas "Valvuthayam" Mannar diocese, who visited villages on November 6, said "99 percent" of houses in the area are damaged or destroyed, the rubble overgrown with weeds. Refugees are finding shelter from heavy rain in six damaged churches or in temporary sheds in the churchyards, he added. "Essential services are woefully underdeveloped. The refugees have no access to Church relief efforts and are heavily dependent on state aid." Caritas has applied for permission from the government Special Task Force but so far only United Nation's agencies have been allowed into the villages. Father Sosai said that there is an urgent need for tarpaulins. Oblate priest Father Celestine Mascringe, parish priest of St Anthony's church in Cheddikulam village, five kilometres away from the Menik Farm, is one of the priests providing pastoral care for the resettled refugees. He said they are coping with the difficult conditions. Father Surenthiran Ravel Leenus, secretary to Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Mannar, said that some 1,500 families, mostly Catholics, had been resettled in 10 villages since mid-October.