[Independent UK] His name was Abi, he was six, and the last his family glimpsed of him was in the frenzied moments after deadly shells struck close to the bunker where they had been sheltering. His sisters were gravely injured, his mother too, and the young boy put his arm around her. “Mother,” he sobbed […]
Donors aim to provide Sri Lanka with a brighter future through investment in its children
[Unicef] VAVUNIYA, Northern Sri Lanka, 10 October 2011- In a region which, until recently, had been mired in conflict, the joyful sound of high-pitched laughter danced in the air, as an audience of rapt children enthusiastically responded to the travelling company ‘Clowns without Borders’. Charming the gathering of youth with their engaging brand of slapstick […]
Civil war leaves Sri Lankan woman vulnerable
[Al Jazeera] Sri Lanka’s long-running conflict was brutal for its women. More than 80,000 are said to have been widowed in war-affected areas of the island nation. [Full Story]
‘Great danger’ for civilians in Sri Lanka conflict: UN
[AFP] Tens of thousands of Sri Lankan civilians face “great danger” after being caught in fighting between Tamil rebels and the advancing military, a senior UN diplomat warned on Friday. “Estimates vary of the number of civilians trapped, from 70,000 according to the government, through around 200,000 according to UN estimates, up to 300,000 or […]
Children trapped in Sri Lanka’s conflict
[UNICEF] Sennappu had a split second, a moment, literally a heartbeat to throw her body around her 18-month-old daughter before the bomb landed. Her reactions were enough time to save the life of her baby girl. Sennappu was killed instantly. As Sri Lanka’s conflict has grown in intensity, so too has the number of civilians […]