Getuigenissen over onze hulpverlening

Sri Lanka - Gevolgen van de Tsunami

De kolossale vloedgolf van 26/12/04 teisterde de kuststreken van Sri-Lanka, en verwoestte de gouden stranden en doodde de bewoners van vooral het zuiden, westen en oosten. Bij het ontwaken, nam de Tsunami meer dan 30 000 mensenlevens, 179 000 gezinnen moesten zich verplaatsen, meer dan 1 miljoen mensen werden getroffen. Onder de doden zijn 18 000 kinderen. Benevens de steden, hotels, huizen, voertuigen, boten, treinen en bussen, die volledig vernield werden zijn ook nog eens 41 scholen in 13 districten totaal onbruikbaar en 71 scholen zijn gedeeltelijk vernield, zodat de kinderen het nieuwe schooljaar niet kunnen starten.

800 vluchtelingenkampen zijn opgezet in 224 scholen om de slachtoffers te herbergen. Sommigen zijn ondergebracht in kerken, tempels en conventen. De heropening van scholen is uitgesteld. Er vond nooit eerder een catastrofe van deze omvang plaats in Sri Lanka.

Tegelijkertijd is er nooit zoveel solidariteit geweest tussen de Sri-Lankanen onderling. Ondanks het feit van etnische, religieuze en politieke verschillen en spanningen is deze spontane uitbarsting van verdriet en een wil om te helpen, een hoopvol teken van verzoening en vrede. Voedingswaren, water en kleding werden zowel geschonken door privépersonen, instellingen en de staat.

Medicijnen, tenten, dekens en medisch personeel stromen van alle landen ter wereld toe. Al deze middelen zijn goed om de onmiddellijke nood te lenigen, maar wat daarna?

De getroffenen moeten opnieuw gehuisvest worden. De huizen moeten opnieuw voorzien worden van bedden, stoelen, kookplaatsen, tafels.... De kinderen moeten uniformen, schoenen en boeken hebben. Handelaars en fabrieken dienen nieuwe gebouwen en machines te hebben. Vissers dienen boten en visgerei te hebben.

CWM heeft in bepaalde vissersdorpen en steden die bij de beweging behoren geïdentificeerd. Wij hebben een onderzoek ingesteld en prioriteiten vastgesteld.

Hierna volgt ons actieplan:

1. concrete acties: onmiddellijk keukengerei, meubilair en schoolgerief ter beschikking stellen. Ouders en kinderen op mentaal gebied bijstaan.
2. Plaatsnamen: (a)Zuidkust: 1) Payagala – 2)Matara (b)Zuidwestkust: 1)Hendala (Preethipura) – 2)Negombo
3. Locaties: (a) Kuda Payagala, Maha Payagala (b) Matara (stad) (c) Hendala Preethipura – huis voor mentaal gehandicapten. (d) Negombo (Munnakkara/Kuttiduwa)
4. Doelgroep: vissersfamilies in Payagala en Negombo; gehandicapte kinderen en families in Prithipura; CWM-families in Matara
5. Objectief: de gemeenschap heropbouwen in het licht van een nieuwe start in hun nieuwe huizen.
6. Geplande activiteit: hergroeperen van de mensen in de vluchtelingenkampen in families teneinde zelf bedruipend te worden. Iedere familie voorzien in hun basisbehoeften: eten, kleding, jobs en opvoeding van de kinderen.

In Payagala:

Er zijn 150 families die voor 90% van de visvangst afhankelijk zijn. Er zijn ongeveer 450 kinderen. Al hun huizen zijn verwoest. Zij zijn gehuisvest in Maggona (St Vincent Home voor kinderen) 8 km van hun dorp.

Het gemiddeld gezin bestaat uit 5 personen. Wij hopen om iedere familie van een keuken te voorzien, zodat ze zelf kunnen koken in plaats van afhankelijk te zijn van een centrale kookplaats waar voor ongeveer 1600 mensen wordt gekookt. Iedereen heeft een andere smaak en zou graag zijn eigen voedsel koken. Wij zullen ook de school van boeken voorzien en andere benodigdheden, zodanig dat de kinderen kunnen studeren. Er moet ook een team komen om de trauma's te helpen verwerken.

In Prithipura:

Er leven 75 gehandicapte mensen in een home. Zij zijn hun bedden en rolstoelen kwijt. Zij moeten voorzien worden van bedden, matrassen en linnen.

In Negombo:

Onze vissersfamilies zijn hun huizen niet verloren maar wel hun boten en vissersgerief. Wij hebben hun voedselvoorraden gegeven tot zij opnieuw kunnen gaan vissen. Ook schoolgerief verstrekken is een prioriteit.

In Matara: In Matara zijn er 30 katholieken gestorven waarvan 10 lid waren van de CWM. Dringende hulp aan onze leden en hun families kan enkel gegeven worden in de mate dat er fondsen ter beschikking zijn. Op lange termijn zullen wij hun middelen geven voor de heropbouw zoals onderdak, meubilair, schoolopleiding. Wij zullen ook middelen moeten ter beschikking stellen om handel te kunnen drijven, ook boten en visgerief.

Samen met de regering en andere organisaties zullen wij alles in het werk stellen om onze mensen te helpen en Sri Lanka herop te bouwen.

Uw hulp wordt ten zeerste geapprecieerd en wij waarderen uw solidariteit in deze crisissituatie.

Joseph Anthony Shiran Maithri

Nationaal voorzitter nationaal penningmeester

CWM SRI LANKA - 05/01/2005

Sri Lanka - Aftermath of the tsunami

The huge tidal waves that devastated the coastal areas of Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit the island on 26 December 2004 devastated the golden beaches and the lives of the inhabitants, mainly on the southern, western and eastern coasts of the country. In its wake, it claimed over 30,000 lives, displaced 179,000 families and affected more than one million people. Among the dead are 18,000 children. Apart from the towns, hotels, homes, vehicles, boats, trains and buses that were completely destroyed, 41 schools in 13 districts have collapsed and a further 71 are partially damaged, preventing children from starting their new year classes.

800 refugee camps have been set up in 224 schools to accommodate the victims. Some are housed in churches, temples and kovils. The reopening of schools has been postponed. There has been no catastrophe like this in the history of Sri Lanka. Also unprecedented is the overwhelming spirit of solidarity among the people of our country to the call to reach out to the affected people.

In spite of the ethnic divide, the disharmony between religious and racial groups, and the political divisions, the spontaneous outburst of grief and united efforts to help the victims of the tsunami are a sign of hope for rehabilitation, reconciliation and peace. Food, drinking water and clothes have been adequately provided locally by individuals, institutions and the state organizations.

Medicine, blankets, tents and other medical equipment together with volunteer medical personnel are pouring in from countries all over the world. All these will bring immediate relief to the homeless people. But what comes next?

The homeless need to be rehabilitated and resettled. Houses are required; they have to be furnished with beds, tables, chairs, kitchen equipment, cooking utensils, etc. Clothing is needed for office workers who have lost all their own. Schools have to be reopened and children provided with uniforms, shoes and books to restart their schooling.

Traders and manufacturers have to restart their business in premises with new equipment’s and machinery. The fishermen need boats and fishing gear to go out to sea. Everybody needs something, starting with a house to live in, a job to earn money, and schools to educate the children.

The Christian Workers’ Movement has identified with fishing villages and a town in the western and north-western provinces, because they are our own members. We asked them what they felt their needs were, and have found that there are certain priorities which have to be met immediately.

Our plan of action is therefore as follows:

1. Concrete action: Provide immediate needs - kitchen utensils, furniture, educational material, etc. Counselling to parents and children for better mental health.
2. Name of region: (a) Southern coast - 1. Payagala 2. Matara. (b) South-western area – 1. Hendala (Preethipura) 2. Negombo
3. Location: (a) Kuda Payagala, Maha Payagala (b) Matara (town) (c) Hendala- Preethipura- home for the mentally disabled. (d) Negombo (Munnakkara/ Kuttiduwa)
4. Target group: (a) Fishing families in Payagala and Negombo (b) disabled children and people in Prithipura (c) CWM families in Matara.
5. Objective: Rebuild the society by means of rehabilitation with a view to resettlement in their new homes.
6. Activity Planned: Bringing people from the refugee camps back together in family groups so that they can look after themselves. Covering each family's basic needs, i.e., food, clothing, jobs, and education for the children

Payagala:

There are 150 families, 90% of which are dependent on fishing. There are approximately 450 children. All their houses are in shambles. They are housed in Maggona (St. Vincent Home for Children) 8 km away from their village. The average family size is five. We expect to equip each family with kitchen utensils to do their own cooking instead of depending on central cooked food for about 1600. All have different tastes and would like to cook their own food. It is also manageable to distribute dry rations for this purpose.

Further initiatives and leadership will be forthcoming. We need to provide schoolbooks and other school equipment to enable the children to restart their studies. We may have to enlist teachers to look after the children in the refugee camp, as they will not be in position to go to another school for the time being.

A Counselling team will be needed to help the victims deal with the psychological trauma.

Prithipura:

There are 75 handicapped persons living in this home. The disabled children and other adults have lost their bedding, wheelchairs and other furniture. They need to be provided with beds, mattresses, pillows and bed linen and the other furniture they require. We will provide their requirements according to their needs.

Negombo

Our fishing families did not lose any of their houses, but they have lost their boats and fishing nets. Since these were their means of sustenance, we have been providing them with food until they can start fishing again. Schoolbooks and other school equipment’s for the children is a priority requirement.

Matara

30 Catholics died in Matara town, 10 of whom were CWM group members. We may need to help their families as required.

Since our members and their families have immediate and urgent needs, we must give them urgent relief from the funds available. In the long term, we will survey the rehabilitation requirements of the displaced families and provide them with housing, furniture, basic needs for their employment, and education facilities for the children. It will be necessary to help them with equipment for their trade, such as boats and nets, and income-generating schemes for women, etc.

Together with the state and other organizations, we will endeavor to resettle our people and rebuild Sri Lanka.

YOUR HELP IS MOST APPRECIATED AND WE VALUE YOUR SOLIDARITY IN THIS CRISIS.

JOSEPH ANTHONY SHIRAN MAITHRI

National President National Treasurer

CWM SRI LANKA - 05.01.2005

Actuele situatie in Sri Lanka na de vloedgolven.

Spijtig genoeg is Sri Lanka één van de gebieden die zwaar getroffen zijn door de tsunami op zondagmorgen 26 december.

Eerst en vooral zijn de mensen van de oostelijke provincies getroffen. Beetje bij beetje heeft de vloedgolf ook het noorden en het oosten bereikt, zoals Jaffna, Wadamarachchi, Mulathive, Killinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticoloa, Kalmunai, Amparai, Yala (het natuurreservaat).

Aan de zuidelijke kust van Hambantota, werden vooral Tangalle, Matara, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Ambalangoda en Bentota getroffen.

In het zuidelijke en noordwestelijke deel van Beruwala werden voornamelijk de kustgebieden Maggona, Payagala, Kalutara, Wadduwa, Panadura, Moratuwa, Lunawa, Dehiwala, Wellawatte, Hendala, Modera, Mattakkuliya, Palliyawatte, Dikowita, Negombo, Wennappuwa, Kammala, Marawila, Chilaw, Kalpitiya tot aan Puttalam getroffen.

Daar wonen heel veel arme vissersfamilies. Het gaat hier voornamelijk om katholieken.

Volgens de laatste statistieken van 28 december, vielen er ongeveer 18.000 doden; verschillende duizenden worden nog steeds vermist.

Dit getal zal nog oplopen wanneer men verder kan gaan met het identificeren van de lichamen en ook als de mensen naar hun vernielde huizen terug zullen keren.

Families die geen onderdak hebben, worden voorlopig gehuisvest in kerken, tempels en scholen. Ze hebben enkel de kleren die ze droegen op het moment van de ramp.

Vlak na de catastrofe hebben heel veel mensen de slachtoffers spontaan geholpen door hen zo vlug mogelijk van eten, drinkbaar water en kleding te voorzien.

Heel veel onafhankelijke organisaties van de CWM (= onze Vlaamse KWB) hebben heel snel hulp geboden aangezien het even heeft geduurd vooraleer de officiële instanties acties konden ondernemen. Dit omdat de ramp zich voordeed op 'Poya Day', een zondagse feestdag.

Voorlopig hebben de mensen voeding en een noodonderdak, maar de vraag is hoelang dit nog zal duren.

Misschien is iedereen binnen enkele weken dit voorval wel vergeten.

Tien leden van de CWM (KWB) van Matara kwamen om het leven. Ze woonden een viering bij op het moment dat de vloedgolf toesloeg. Mevrouw Loreta Ranasinghe, CWM bisdom-afgevaardigde, kernmedewerkster en nationaal executive, werd slechts verwond, maar haar zus en een broer van haar schoonzoon zijn dood.

Negombo en Paygala zijn zwaar getroffen gebieden, maar er zijn tot nu toe nog geen doden gemeld.

Van de vissers van de gebieden Tangalle tot Beruwala hebben we nog geen nieuws. We hopen dat alles goed is met hen.

Er zijn heel veel vissers uit het gebied van Beruwala tot Kalpitiya die hard gevochten hebben voor financiële stabiliteit, maar al hun pogingen werden met de grond gelijk gemaakt. Hun levens werden gered, maar door die enkele seconden moeten ze terug van voor af aan beginnen. Miljoenen mensen bevinden zich in hetzelfde schuitje. Hun documenten, certificaten, identiteitskaarten en dergelijke zijn verloren.

Het zal noodzakelijk zijn dit te volgen totdat iedereen terug gehuisvest is en iedereen terug in zijn eigen onderhoud kan voorzien. Wat de CWM betreft, hebben deze vissersfamilies de voorrang omdat sommige van hen lid zijn van CWM en omdat het meestal om katholieken gaan. Wij vinden het onze plicht hen terug op het juiste spoor te helpen. Ze hebben huis en huisraad verloren, kinderen verloren hun schoolmateriaal, vrouwen verloren het materiaal om hun inkomen te verweren en de vissers verloren hun boten, catamarans en andere vissersuitrusting.

In de Negombo lagune zijn er die morgen meer dan 600 boten vernield. De exacte gegevens zijn er nog niet, maar tussen Tangalle en Puttlam werden er vooral boten vernield.

Op dit moment hebben we vernomen dat er heel veel leden zijn getroffen in Matara, Galle, Beruwala, Maggona, Payagala, Kalutara, Molligoda, Wadduwa, Moratuwa, Hendala, Modera, Palliyawatte, Dikowita, Negombo, Wennapuwa, Kalpitiya en Batticoloa. 2850 gezinnen zijn dakloos.

Dit zijn in totaal 10967 volwassenen en kinderen. Er zijn ook 14 mensen omgekomen. 1500 huizen moeten heropgebouwd worden, nadat de wegen gevrijwaard zijn van modder en rommel.

Op dit moment voorzien we deze mensen van tweedehands kleding, basisvoedsel, drinkbaar water en de noodzakelijke medicijnen. Dit zijn allemaal giften van buitenaf of aankopen van de CWM. We zullen nog transport zoeken om dit naar de meest getroffen gebieden te brengen.

Om hen terug een thuis te geven, hebben we basismaterialen nodig zoals cement, bakstenen en dakbedekking. Wat het werk betreft, zullen de getroffen families mekaar wel helpen.

Er is ook geen materiaal om terug te beginnen met het vissen. Ze zullen terug boten, catamarans, kleine vissersbootjes, netten en ander materiaal nodig hebben.

Kinderen hebben terug boeken, uniformen en ander materiaal nodig. Maar dit is moeilijk te verkrijgen, aangezien ze geen cent meer hebben. Hun toekomst ziet er niet rooskleurig uit zonder de hulp van anderen.

Het zal misschien niet mogelijk zijn om al de families tegelijk te helpen. We zullen beginnen waar de nood het hoogst is, en beloven hen te helpen met jullie hartversterkende hulp.

Situation update of Sri Lanka due to tsunami tidal wave.

Sri Lanka was most unfortunate to be at the receiving end of the tidal wave due to the tsunami the morning hours of December 26th.

The first impact has been the people of Eastern province.

It has gradually hit the other parts of the North & East comprising Jaffna, Wadamarachchi, Mulathive, Killinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticoloa, Kalmunai, Amparai, Yala (The wildlife sanctuary).

In the Southern coast of Hambantota, Tangalle, Matara, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Ambalangoda and Bentota were affected.

In the South & Northwestern part in Beruwala, Maggona, Payagala, Kalutara, Wadduwa, Panadura, Moratuwa, Lunawa, Dehiwala, Wellawatte, Hendala, Modera, Mattakkuliya, Palliyawatte, Dikowita, Negombo, Wennappuwa, Kammala, Marawila, Chilaw, Kalpitiya right up to Puttalam devasting the coastal belt which belongs with fishing families.

The people who live from Beruwala to Puttalam most are predominately Catholics.

According to the Latest statistics on 28th December, there are approximately 18,000 people dead, over one million people and several thousands missing without a trace. The figures will add up daily as and when bodies are identified, and people started returning to their homes which are devastated. Presently displaced families are housed in various churches, temples and schools. They have only the clothes they were wearing at the time of the disaster which occurred without any warning.

With the news of this sudden catastrophe, the people rallied round spontaneously and helped the victims with food, drinking water, clothes as quickly as possible. Many organizations including grassroots groups of CWM responded quickly until the government put their machinery into operation which normally takes time especially because it was Poya Day & Sunday holiday during the Christmas Season.

Their immediate requirements, food and emergency shelter has been found but how long it will last, is a matter of conjecture. Perhaps everybody will forget the episode in a couple of weeks. CWM lost their dedicated ten members in Matara. They were in the Sunday holy mass the tidal wave took their lives. Ms. Loreta Ranasinghe, CWM Diocesan Secretary, Cell Secretary and National Executive Member escaped with injuries but her sister and a son in laws brother died. Negombo and Paygala severe damaged areas but fortunately no deaths reported. Still, we didn’t get information of our fisheries brothers and sisters from Tangalle to Beruwala. We hope and pray they will be safe. Women of small groups of fishermen from Beruwala to Kalpitiya created a new social order at the grassroots level with financial stability in villages got down from mat to the floor again. Their self-help programs, poultries and everything lost within a few seconds, but still safe their lives have to start from the “A”. Not only had they, but millions of people also lost their every cent to have begun their daily life at the very beginning. Documents, certificates, identity cards and the deeds for their properties have lost.

This is where rehabilitation will be necessary until they are re-housed, settled in their own dwellings and some means of subsistence is provided. As far the CWM is concerned, fishermen and their families are the first priority for us because a considerable percentage is our own members and being mostly Catholics dominated by various ways, we have a duty to help for uplift their lives. They lost their houses with all other households, Children lost their books and everything, Women lost their income generating equipment’s and fishermen lost their boats, catamarans, nets and other equipment’s. In Negombo lagoon there were over 600 boats destroyed by the tidal wave that morning. Still, we haven’t full data regarding these equipment’s but from Tangalle to Puttlam there are worst damaged have been them.

Right now, we have report that members are affected in Matara, Galle, Beruwala, Maggona, Payagala, Kalutara, Molligoda, Wadduwa, Moratuwa, Hendala, Modera, Palliyawatte, Dikowita, Negombo, Wennapuwa, Kalpitiya and Batticoloa. The number of families displaced is 2850. Total number with the children 10,967. The number of dead members with their relatives: 14 people. There will be approximately over 1500 houses that need rebuilding. They are in shambles; almost all are raised to the ground, with the access roads filled with mud and rubble.

At the moment, we are collecting used clothes, dry rations, drinking water, and basic medicines to be distributed to the displaced people with our members who are affected. There are voluntary contributions and others purchased by the CWM. We shall find the necessary transport to take them the areas that an affected most.

In order to resettle them, we need to give at least their basic needs too. We need construction materials like cement, sand, bricks, roofing sheets and timber etc. The labor component will be mustered by using self-help neighbour hood solidarity among affected families.

There are no equipment’s for them to start their fishing after resettlement. Boats, Catamarans, Small fishing boats, nets and other equipment’s have to be provided. For children’s books, uniforms, bags and all other equipment’s have to be supplied. How difficult to raise all these things for them without a cent? It will be a very sad situation for near future for these people without the assistance from others.

It may not be possible to provide assistance to every affected family at once. However, we will have to prioritize according to the needs of each family and confine ourselves to assist them with your cordial support.

Tsunami Tidal Wave in Sri Lanka 9.0/2004 – Aftermath

Survivors lament not for their property but for loved ones they have lost. Tsunami has thus taken a very high tool on human lives. Victims being the poor and the marginalized who have lost homes, boats & nets, loved ones. Their livelihood and the precious little they possessed are all the more vulnerable to disease.

We met some people in Negombo, Payagala, Maggona and Matara. Mrs. Anne Hycinth- President, CWM Payagala North told, It was a gigantic wave. We were almost drowned, but luckily people were there to pull us out and we came running to the temple as the police told us to vacate the place. Thank God our lives weren’t harmed but we’ve lost every little bit we owned. Our children don’t even have their birth certificates. My only worthwhile possession, our houses are flattened to the ground. (She is crying) Nobody knows what to do?

They are living in refugee camp at Maggona Calvary Shrine. 150 fisheries families from Payagala North and Kuda Payagala of our members who displaced are living with other families there. Most of them have only the cloth who wearing that time. There are 1600 people living that camp.

Wasanthi- from Payagala said “I carried my children and ran for my life. I know we are lucky to be alive, but we have lost everything. Where are we going now? We are treated well here, but we can’t stay here forever. I hope we will get houses very soon. My sewing machines and all other equipment’s washed away to the sea. I can’t think how we will start our life again from a grassroots level. At the moment we have nothing”

With the tidal waves claiming thousands of lives in the maritime belt of the country, more than 2500 families in the Payagala area in Beruwala electorate have been displaced.

The whole area along the Galle Road from Payagala to Beruwala had been inundated by the surging sea water and sometimes water levels had been more than three feet according to eyewitnesses. Most of the people escaped death because they didn’t go to fishing due to Christmas. Fishing boys have acted as lifesavers at the moment of disaster. Some drug addicts had started to loot valuables from damaged houses according to some affected people.

The aftermath of the tidal waves in Payagala to Beruwala, most people displaced, thousands houses destroyed, boats nets and everything belongs with them washed to the sea.

The situation of Negombo is very difference to Payagala. Mrs. Nirmala from Kuttiduwa told “Sea water came to our houses. Our fishing boats, nets and every other equipment’s lost. But our lives are safe. We can go back to our homes. How we live? My husband and hundreds of other fishermen haven’t a job. In this situation how we are eating? We haven’t money to buy foodstuffs. We thank to CWM who brought us dry foods. We can manage it for a week. We can’t beg. Next10th schools will open. How we send our children to schools? They haven’t books, we haven’t money to buy books. This is the big challenge to us have to face. In Kuttiduwa, Munnakkara, Siriwardana Place, Mankuliya there are over 400 fisheries families belongs to CWM. Our women’s groups, men’s groups are handling the voluntary work in these areas. What will be our future?

This is the real question for everyone. We should commence reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation, which is the most important need of the moment. But we believe that these people will suffer psychologically throughout their lives. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their houses and all other things. If we fail to work out some long-term plan these people will start to rampage and loot, which will lead to many other social problems too.

Mrs. Loreta Ranasinghe Graduate teacher by profession, CWM National executive member lives in Matara, 160 kilometers southeast of the capital told that tidal waves five- to six meters high swept into Our Lady of Matara Shrine as people were receiving Holy Communion in the Sunday Mass. They took away about 40 people including Ms. Loreta and a nun. Shrine administrator Rev Fr. Charles Hewawasam (He was the CWM diocesan chaplain when German Group went to Galle in 1997?) mange to escape in the nick time and Providence preserved me for some reason or other, but my unmarried sister was engulfed by the fast-receding waves. There were 25- 30 people died six members of the CWM group of Matara also lost.

Tsunami tidal waves washing and smashing the eight feet parapet wall and roaring mercilessly within the Home for the Mentally Retarded Children of the Preethipura Home, at the Hendala, the angry waters could not devour any child or inmate living at the Home at the time of the unexpected catastrophe. “We thank the Providence for saving all the 71 children and 22 members of the staff attending to the children” official told to us. Children at the Preethipura Home now reside temporally at St. Joseph’s Church grounds at Kerawalapitiya, Hendala. CWM group members are volunteer working to assist these displaced handicapped children. We supported to supply their meals with food stuffs.

CWM national and archdiocesan executive committees discussed the situation and decided to make work plan with short term & long-term objectives, immediate actions and counselling services etc. We already decided to collect data regarding the refugees in camps and other places, it will help to create concrete actions in near future. The one third of the displaced people are children. We decided to make special attention for displaced children and help them to build-up as soon as possible. 10th of January schools will re-open for new academic year. Displaced children haven’t books, uniforms, shoes and other things. Their parents haven’t a cent to spend for children’s education. At the same time most of these children live away from their villages and their regular schools.

If they will attend to their normal school residing nearby their hometown they would travel by bus. They have no money to spend as bus fare. With these all difficulties and challenges will create most of these displaced children may be school dropouts. What can we do? How can win these challenges? CWM wants your help and assistance to build a solidarity wall for help these children. We hope all of you will join with us in various ways to change this situation.

JOSEPH ANTHONY - SHIRAN MAITHRI