Focus on tsunami cripples feeding programs for Sri Lankan children

Published: 2005-12-29

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNS) -- In the year since tsunamis devastated the Sri Lankan coast, many donor agencies focused on tsunami relief work, and an important church program has been neglected, said a Catholic official. The tsunami focus has had a "crippling effect" on a program to feed 15,000 schoolchildren in the areas under the control of Tamil rebels in the North of the island nation. "We cannot just shut down our nutritional feeding program because the donors are shifting focus to tsunami relief," said K. Theivendirarajah, head of the emergency wing of Caritas Sri Lanka. "Now we are struggling to find money to keep this going." Theivendirarajah said Caritas Sri Lanka has to find almost $10,000 every month to continue the nutritional food program in 85 schools in the war-torn Wanni region, under the control of Tamil rebels, or the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam.

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