The Sri Lanka Working Group which met from September 24 to 26, 2008 issued a statement on the humanitarian crisis prevailing in the North of the Country.

The Statement reads as follows:

We the members of the Sri Lanka Working Group meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka from September 24 to 26, 2008 were alarmed by the increasing severity of the humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing conflict which has caused displacement of thousands of people and sufferings of families throughout the country and are particularly concerned about the hundreds of thousands of people displaced, in the conflict zone in the Northern part of Sri Lanka.

They suffer from lack of shelter, medical care and basic needs.

Caritas Sri Lanka, the Social Arm of the Catholic Church, with the solidarity of its Dioceses and International Partners is a primary organization responding to the immediate needs of the displaced people; but their needs are growing and our role is also expanding and more support is required.

In this crisis situation, we the Working Group of Caritas Sri Lanka, request the attention and solidarity of members of the Caritas Confederation to support implementation of our humanitarian work in the country

(Issued in Colombo on Friday, September 26, 2008)