Caritas Vanni Director seriously injured in Sri Lanka conflict

Rev. Fr. T.R. Vasanthaseelan, the local director of Caritas in Sri Lanka’s war-torn Vanni region, has been severely injured in the ongoing fighting between government and Tamil Tiger (LTTE) rebel forces.
Both Fr. Vasanthaseelan legs were injured and one of his legs has already been amputated after shells hit St. Anthony’s Church in Valaignarmadam on Thursday morning, 23 April.

Tens of thousands of innocent people, including women and children are trapped in a small pocket of land. Many have sought safety in St Anthony’s Church.

The security forces of the Government of Sri Lanka have captured almost all the areas that were under the control of the Tamil Tiger rebels and are now entering into the “Safe Zone” where the LTTE is keeping the civilians as human shields. Caritas is calling on the Tamil rebels to release all civilians.

According to the official statistics over 100,000 civilians have been brought out from the “Safe Zone” and are being sent to Welfare Camps. The rescue operation continues.

Rev. Fr. Vasanthaseelan, Director Caritas Vanni-Hudec, has been living with the people in Vanni providing humanitarian assistance and moving with the people.

Further, Caritas has received the news that Rev. Fr. James Pathinathan, a member of National Commission for Justice, Peace and Human Development was also injured and brought to the hospital in Anuradhapura the day before.

Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Lesley-Anne Knight said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Vanni and Caritas colleagues of Fr. Vasanthaseelan and Fr. James Pathinathan.

“Fr. Vasanthaseelan is a much loved figure in Sri Lanka and throughout the Caritas confederation. He is a man of peace, courage and hope. He has lived among the people he seeks to serve and accompanied them through their suffering. He has been a sign of love and faithfulness throughout such difficult times.

“That aid workers are suffering only underlines how innocent people, women and children are being killed and injured in Sri Lanka’s civil war and reinforces our calls for an immediate ceasefire.

“Both the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tiger rebels have obligations to protect the lives of civilians and allow humanitarian access. The United Nations and the international community must hold them to these commitments.”

Caritas Internationalis has launched an appeal to provide emergency assistance to the war victims, those have been made homeless by the fighting, returnees and war affected families , especially women and children.

Contact Patrick Nicholson on 0039 334 359 0700 or nicholson@caritas.va


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