Report Back: Sri Lanka IDP Camps
9/01/2009
In March 2008, ChildFund New Zealand launched an emergency appeal. The conflict between the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had escalated. In the North and East of Sri Lanka, the lives of 3,300 adults and children were taken and over 200,000 more would find themselves without a home.
Starvation was threatening to claim even more young lives. Half the children in the conflict-affected regions were underweight, often severely malnourished. The schooling that could help them break free from poverty had stopped. At the start of the conflict, some 22,000 Sri Lankan children had stopped going to school. Poor sanitation posed a risk of life-threatening disease. The children were also traumatised by the atrocities they had witnessed and risked being scarred for life.
With the help of so many immensely compassionate Kiwis, ChildFund New Zealand wasted no time in responding to the psychological, physical and longterm needs of displaced children and their families. We immediately entered the camps and set up safe play areas (Child Centred Spaces), encouraged the resumption of schooling and better hygiene, as well as providing nutritional supplements, clothing and footwear. These efforts have restored normality, a much needed ‘calm’, so little ones can begin their recovery.
This is all thanks to you. Your support has and will continue to make a much needed and lasting difference.
What's been achieved already
- Filling hungry tummies. Almost 3,000 children have received nutritional supplements to bridge the gaps between proper meals.
- No longer cold and barefoot. With 3,000 outfitted in clothing and sandals.
- It’s back to school. Now that 2,000 children have been equipped with educational supplies, class attendance has surged.
- Also safe to play. Five Child Centred Spaces have been established for morning, afternoon and evening play, recreational and non-formal education. These provide a safe zone where children can play and learn how to laugh again, whilst enabling volunteers to identify children suffering from trauma.
- Music, drama, dance and sport are helping children to express themselves and what they have experienced.
- Lasting change is now possible through five Child Well Being Committees. The members of the Committee are composed of people from the local communities. They run the Child Centred Spaces and ensure the safety and protection of the children.
- Healthy lessons in life. Five separate communities have also taken part in a health/sanitary awareness programme to minimise the risk of preventable illness.
What is a Child Centred Space?
These are safe places, away from conflict areas where children can feel safe and are able to relax and play. The children also receive support in coping with what they have witnessed or experienced.
The parents in Sri Lanka cannot thank you enough for helping to keep their children alive and out of harm’s way through this crisis.
Kavidha's story
Little Kavidha saw her dad shot and killed, as their home was burnt to the ground. Only 6 years old, Kavidha of course was severely traumatised. Initially this little girl was hesitant to participate in play activities at the Child Centred Spaces and did not want to attend school.
Child Centred Spaces are one of the few places in conflict ravaged Sri Lanka where children can feel safe. Parents can relax, confident that their little girls and boys are in a protective environment that provides activities, care and structure for their children.
After gentle encouragement to get Kavidha to talk about how she was feeling, it turned out that her feet were hurting. After all this little one had been through, enough was enough, and her little bare feet just hurt too much when she walked, especially over the debris on the way to school.
Now that sandals have been provided, Kavidha is, slowly but surely, starting to join in with some games and is now attending classes. Kavidha continues to suffer panic attacks and nightmares. The scars are deep and she will require ongoing support. But through ChildFund New Zealand supporters, some of her basic needs, such as food, clothing, footwear, schooling and friendship are being met and normality is being restored.
Thank you for helping to make this possible and supporting this little girl on her way to recovery.
