Grace responds to crisis in Sri Lanka

With help from generous donors and friends, the staff at Grace Care Center has been able to provide direct assistance to the latest survivors of the civil war in Sri Lanka.
The war may be winding down, but it certainly is not over. Civilians in the northeast district of Mullaitivu have, since late January, been caught between the government army of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in what may be the final battles of the long civil war.

Tens of thousands of civilians are leaving Mullaitivu, most heading about 40 miles south to Trinco. What has been frequently called a humanitarian crisis by international agencies has, again, brought the war close to our friends at the Grace Care Center orphanage and elders home.

Last month, we appealed to friends of Grace, and nearly $3,000 was donated and put to use immediately in Trinco. Mercy Home manager Hiram Labrooy and Grace Home manager Rev. J. Gnanapragasam obtained a list of critical items needed by nearly 1,000 civilians who were injured during the battles in Mullaitivu and were brought to Trincomalee General Hospital. Generous donations to VeAhavta allowed Grace Care staff and VeAhavta overseas director Rev. S. Jeyanesan to distribute food, clothing, medicine, toiletry items and other necessary supplies.

More assistance is needed. A February story in Time magazine reported that an estimated 250,000 civilians remain caught in the war zone.  Camps for Internally Displaced Persons are, again, lining the coast from Mullaitivu to Trincomalee, and the refugees who just arrived remain in dire straits.

Members of the Grace Care Center oversight committee remain in frequent contact with Grace staff, and are preparing to assist in any way possible. We thank you for your continued support, and will report our efforts and progress as they develop.