ASIA/SRI LANKA - Refugee emergency crisis: “Thousands of people are at risk for death in the coming days, from hunger, thirst, and a lack of medical care.”

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) – The war has ended, but the refugee emergency remains very serious. This is what Agenzia Fides has learned from priests, religious, volunteers, and NGOs working on the field in the north-central part of the island, confirming the humanitarian crisis and describing a situation nearing exasperation. “Thousands f people are at risk for death in the coming days, from hunger, thirst, and a lack of medical care,” a Catholic volunteer from Caritas observes.
“It is urgent that the government provides immediate access to food and potable water,” they added. At least 250,000 people lack basic need materials. If there is no intervention soon, there will be a humanitarian tragedy on a large scale, Caritas explains, in spite of the work being carried out by the organizations in the area.
An emergency appeal came from the district of Vavuniya, where there is a great need for medical assistance. For several days now, a new wave of 50,000 civilians have come into the area. They are exhausted and traumatized and there are hundreds of wounded among them. Another thousand civilians are expected to arrive in the coming days.
“Despite increasing the number of staff, teams are overwhelmed by the huge and sudden influx of people,” doctors working in the area said. Health staff performing triage at the main crossing point, selecting the most seriously injured, treating and stabilizing them on site. On average, there are 10,000 people arriving at this checkpoint every day. The existing facilities have been destroyed and civil society is asking the government to provide urgent resources for the refugees.
Among the organizations present is the MSF (“Doctors Without Borders”), which is working in hospitals in Vavuniya and in other facilities. The organization confirms the extreme necessity for medical treatment and aid, “as the supplies are insufficient in responding to the needs.”
MSF is setting up an additional emergency field hospital in Manik Farm with a bed capacity of 100 and is supporting the Ministry of Health Hospital in Pampaimadu.
The volunteers are working non-stop, 24 hours a day, however if new camps, hospitals, and structures are not set up, the number of refugee victims will escalate. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/5/2009)