With tens of thousands of children displaced by the growing conflict between government forces and the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, World Vision is working urgently on responses to protect their rights.

World Vision Lanka is particularly concerned by the plight of children who have sought refuge in camps close to the conflict zones.

These children are now not in school, they are terrified by artillery fire being launched from nearby, or over their heads, they are at risk from bus bombings, being caught in the cross fire and from land mines. They are living in cramped tents, they lack enough food and water and often the toilets and sanitation conditions are extremely poor. 

From the camps in Batticaloa, World Vision communicator Hasanthi Jayamaha reports that the presence of breakaway factions, including heavily armed boys, is causing fear in the camps.  Parents are especially worried about their children being conscripted into such groups.  

“The mothers told me that, especially when there is no lighting at night during the power cuts - Batticaloa experiences 3 to 6 hr power cuts everyday - that they stay up at night in order to make sure their children are not taken.” 

Hasanthi also says the children are desperate to get back to school and a sense of normality.

“Every child I spoke to had just one desire – going back to school. They don’t complain about not being able to return home or not having enough food but they would not give up their demand to start schooling once again."

Among the advantages of school, children look to their teacher in war-torn areas for help with coping and adjusting. 

“Their teachers are their heroes," explains Hasanthi. "In schools when children feel threatened the teacher is the one to quieten their fears, who tells them when to go under their desks during the shelling and when it is safe to come out.  The teacher is their doctor because when they are psychologically affected it is the teacher who tells them not to be frightened.”

Initially, the displaced children were admitted into close-by schools so that they could continue their studies. But with growing tensions and school buildings doubling as shelter for new arrivals, education has now come to a standstill in Batticaloa. The crisis has not only affected the education of displaced children, but also the education of children who already lived and studied there. 

The situation in Sri Lanka is only expected to get worse as both sides resume full-scale war.  There are now over 300,000 people displaced in the North and East by the current conflict.  Some are also fleeing as refugees to India. 

Latest figures on displaced children in the East:

• 45,000 children displaced
• 22,000 are of school going age but not in school
• 116 schools have been closed
• 25 schools are now IDP camps
• 350 teachers are among the displaced
  (Save the Children figures)

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Sri Lanka Displaced Crisis - previous World Vision updates