Oblate Orphanage Diplaced by War for the Third Time

October 10th, 2008

“Anpaham Orphanage” run by the Oblates of the Jaffna Province has been displaced for the third time in one month. The present situation in Kilinochchi and the surroundings is causing undeniably awful pain and suffering.

Mulankavil is the original place where we had this Home for the 45 little ones. They were uprooted from their haven in the first week of August 2008 and found refuge in the thick jungles of Akkarayankulam in Kilinochchi due to intensified military operations in their vicinity. Artillery firing, shelling and bombing are their daily traumatizing events. Even Akkarayankulam didn’t give them shelter for long. They had to vacate it once again and go to Kanagapuram for safety, as the little ones became haunted by fear and panic from the shelling, bombing and artillery firing. Kanagapuram is just 4 kilometers from Kilinochchi town.

Even that place became a vulnerable spot as it was receiving barrages of shells and artillery firing. These little ones again moved with their loving guardian Fr. Francis Loshington OMI into Visuvamadhu area. Presently they are housed there in ad hoc shelters. The ICRC has helped them with 5 toilets and some sheets to cover their temporary sheds. Our Oblates continue to move with them and take care of them. Their ministry is being continued with more dedication and self sacrifice though they experience much want, inconveniences, hazards and hurdles and of course danger.

Places may be destroyed, buildings be demolished, roads be blocked, food may be denied but our Oblates, experiencing the same fate of the people, move with them. They are the Good Shepherds who know their sheep, call them by their names and lay down their lives for their sheep.

Why is this human tragedy in our land? What did these little ones do to experience such an excruciating pain and fear? Why are they being treated as unfortunate ones? Are they not the children of God? Don’t they have the basic rights to live in their own homes as other children? Don’t they have the rights for education? As I write this, I am told that Kilinochchi town is being bombed and shelled severely. Air and land attacks intensified resulting in more deaths and destruction. Most of the victims are the innocent people who run here and there for shelter. The hospitals, temples, Churches and schools are not spared. I hear now some people, who were traveling on the road, were killed by artillery firing. This continues unabated and human tragedy and misery are on the increase. We hope that the right thinking people will understand what is really going on here. Are all the Tamils to be killed because they claim equal rights?

NEWS JUST RECEIVED FROM KILINOCHCHI- OBLATE HOUSE DAMAGED

The Oblate Institute of Technology and English Language and Computer Centre, [OBTEC] at Kanagapuram, Kilinochchi, is severely damaged due to the aerial bombing in the vicinity yesterday. This centre has been serving as the Home for integral care and education of the children after the famous Tsunami. The buildings and lecture halls have been badly damaged including many computers that were used to educate the poor students in Computer science. At that time 3 Oblates were there – two of them already displaced from their places of ministry. We don’t have any news about their present state. We hope and pray they are safe and unharmed. The Oblates were working hard to provide continued opportunities to these children to study and to get trained in some technical skills under very trying conditions. Now they have vacated the place together with the children to safer locations. One might say that there are no safer locations in Kilinochchi as carpet bombing is going on. This is the situation in which the Jaffna Oblates are continuing their ministry. It is really painful and dangerous.

ANOTHER ALRMING NEWS FROM KILINOCHCHI

“ANNAI ILLAM COUNSELING CENTRE” run by the Oblates of the Jaffna Province at Kanagaambikkaikulam, in Kilinochchi, was vacated by the Director, Fr. Edmund Reginald omi and the residents a few days back. This centre is one of the most involved counseling centres in the district of Kilinochchi and has been training a number of Counselors to help the hundreds of mentally affected and traumatized victims of war. Now it is damaged very badly. I am told that shells that fell in the surroundings have destroyed some of the buildings and the properties. This is the ground reality in Kilinochchi.

We don’t know what will happen next. All our buildings, properties and our assets are being unnecessarily destroyed. Beside the financial burden on us to run these centres and the programs, we are caught up between life and death, more death than life. Whatever happens, our ministries will have to continue. The Oblates are moving along with the people and be with them. This is our story. God help us.

M.Paul Nadchethiram OMI

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