The situation in Sri Lanka has been hitting the news headlines. Following the 2004 tsunami there was a period of truce between the government and the Tamil rebels. That has been abandoned by both sides, leading to vicious fighting. Humanitarian agencies have expressed concern at the situation of thousands of civilians trapped by the fighting. The following report comes from Baptist World Aid who have been helping the churches to provide emergency supplies for civilians fleeing the war zones:

Baptist World Aid (BWAid), the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance(BWA) has given an initial grant of UDS $5,000 to the Sri Lankan Baptist Sangamaya (SLBS), to assist Sri Lanka’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

 The SLBS has joined with other churches and Christian organizations to provide milk, biscuits, medicine and drinking water to those in need.

The United Nations emergency relief coordinator, John Holmes, claims that tens of thousands of people are in mortal danger in Sri Lanka’s northern combat zone. The UN estimates that there are at least 50,000 civilians trapped along a sandy strip of lands near the north eastern town of Mullaitivu. The government calculates the number of civilians trapped because of the fighting at between 15,000 and 20,000.

Fighting between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has been going on for more than 20 years.

There is concern about 150,000 IDPs already in camps with limited water supplies.

Kingsley Perera, the SLBS president is grateful for the help being given. “This is our initial response for the IDPs”, he said, “and we are also planning a livelihood resettlement program” in the long term. Asia Pacific Baptist Aid, the regional entity of BWAid is also supporting the work of the SLBS. 

BWAid Director Paul Montacute is asking for the worldwide Baptist family to help the Sri Lankan Baptists as they play their part in helping those in need.

Donations can be sent to BWAid’s Emergency Relief Fund at the following BWAid Appeal Addresses:

In New Zealand, donations sent to the BANZAid office and marked for "Sri Lankan IDP Relief" will be forwarded to Baptist World Aid for inclusion in the above programmes.

BANZAid
PO Box 12149
Penrose
Auckland1642
New Zealand

Phone: (09) 526 8444

International Donations can be sent directly to Baptist World Aid:

Baptist World Aid
Baptist World Alliance
405 North Washington Street
Falls Church, VA22046, USA
Phone: +1 703 790 8980
Fax: +1 703 790 5719
Email: BWAid@bwanet.org
Contacts: Paul Montacute or Lee Hickman

A US tax receipt will be issued.

Donations may also be made by Visa or MasterCard, in US dollars. State the Gift Amount in US$; Card No; Exp. Date; Signature of donor; and name as it appears on credit card.

Click here for online donations to Baptist World Aid

Cheques in British Currency should be sent to:

Baptist Union of Great Britain
Baptist House
Box 44, 129 Broadway
Didcot, Oxon, OX11 8RT
England, UK
Phone: +44 1235 517700
Fax: +44 1235 517715
Email: info@baptist.org.uk
Contact: Philip Putman

Spar-und-Kreditbank
Evangelisch-Freikirchlicher Gemeinden
Postfach 1262
61282 Bad Homburg v.d.H.
BLZ 500 921 00
Konto-Nr.791-03
Germany

Canadian Baptist Ministries
7185 Millcreek Drive
Mississauga,
Ontario L5N 5R4
Canada
Phone: +1 905 821 3533
Fax: +1 905 826 3441
Email: gking@cbmin.org

Baptist World Aid - Australia
Locked Bag 122
Frenchs Forest
NSW 2086
Australia
Phone: +61 2 9451 1199
Fax: +61 2 9452 4720
Email: Les.Fussell@baptistworldaid.org.au
Contact: Les Fussell

Baptist World Aid Disclaimer:

We continually pray that all of our disaster appeals and approved projects will be fully funded, and celebrate when God answers our prayers. If the project to which your gift is designated has been funded, we will direct your gift to meet a similar need.