Increased political violence since July 2006, has led to the current humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka with 200,000 civilians joining the nearly half a million refugees displaced from the tsunami and a three-decade civil war. In recent months, Human Rights Watch, OCHA (UN) and the U.S. State Department have issued statements of concern regarding humanitarian access to affected populations and increasing human rights violations. In January of 2007, Operation USA issued emergency grants to 15 children's homes (orphanages) in the North East who are now taking in increased numbers of refugee children.

Operation USA is collecting funds and pushing the US Government and the UN to take firm action to help re-open humanitarian corridors, enabling our partners on the ground to provide goods and services to the affected Internally Displaced People(IDP's) and to ensure the safety of tsunami development programs.

Please contact Operation USA if you are able to donate medical supplies or nutritional supplements, are interested in sponsoring children in our Schools and Orphanage program or are looking for ways to assist tsunami-affected populations in Sri Lanka who have also recently been displaced by political violence.

Why respond NOW:

STATISTICS FROM UN (OCHA) MARCH 13, 2007: NORTHEAST REGION: SRI LANKA

- The total number of Internal Displaced Persons is over 200,000

- Attendance of children in school has improved in Jaffna, Ampara and Batticaloa but the movements of population and security situation continue to affect all concerned areas of the North and East

- Though still of high concern, a decrease of security incidents is reported in February with 138 victims (vs. 250 in January) with Trincomalee and Vavuniya being the worst affected

- The number of disappearances reported to the Human Rights Commission continues to stay high with 137 reported disappearances including 47 for Vavuniya District alone

- The number of disrupted projects due to security reasons did not decrease significantly and remains at 75

- The variation of the average retail price of essential food commodities continues to fluctuate unequally between districts

There is an immediate need for food, nutritional supplements, medication, relief supplies, and funds to support the growing refugee population in the NorthEast. Despite Operation USA's advocacy efforts, led by Nimmi Gowrinathan, this aid is not reaching the refugees, due to government restricted humanitarian access to affected regions.

For more information and to help, please contact: ngowrinathan@opusa.org - Nimmi Gowrinathan and/or sfassig@opusa.org - Susan Fassig

Quote from Hari Children's Home:

" At present, we are caring for 45 children who have come from displaced families from war torn Muthur and Vakarai areas in Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts in Sri Lanka. We find it very hard to refuse admission to those who are knocking at our doors day by day for accommodation for protection and education and do escape from the clutches of poverty and deprivation as a result of the tsunami disaster and latest war.

We are very thankful to Operation USA for your good will to join us in providing support services to the welfare of the children in our Children's Home. One day, when they have grown up they would remember your kindness and we would cherish the compassion you have shown towards the children in spite of the fact that you are living on the opposite side of the globe"