Sri Lanka: how to move on?

War Child has been active in Sri Lanka since 2010, where over 26 years of civil war between the state and armed insurgents caused untold misery for children and their communities. The violent conflict has caused more than 70,000 deaths and some 800,000 people have been forced to flee their homes.

Just as the resilient Sri Lankan population was finding some sense of peace again, the atrocities of last weekend’s terrorist acts shocked the country. We are hearing the most horrific testimonies through our partner organizations in eastern Batticaloa. Our colleagues are currently in direct contact with the affected families, who are still recovering bodies and are fully engaged in the funerals.

Our thoughts are very much with them as they mourn their friends, colleagues, community members and loved ones. We as War Child are there to support them also beyond this period. This is why War Child is conducting a rapid assessment of the extent to which these families will need psychosocial support. Because there is little doubt that it will be desperately needed.