Caritas Australia is calling for public and further Government support to the hundreds of thousands of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Northern Sri Lanka.

Fr Damian Fernando, head of Sr Lankan Caritas agency SEDEC one of the few aid agencies still active in the battle zone, said that refugee numbers  have swelled since the fighting has intensified over recent weeks and urgent assistance is required.

"In March there were only 32,000 people in camps there, but now there are more than 190,000," he said. "People arriving in these camps are very weak, many have injuries and other health problems, and they are also deeply traumatised."

Jack de Groot, CEO of Caritas Australia said, “the international community must urgently come to the assistance of these people who we have failed for so long now.”

“Caritas has calculated that to keep each person alive costs $1.30 USD per day. Currently 190,000 people have rushed into the worryingly overcrowded camps that just weeks ago were home to 32,000 longer term displaced people.

“That means we need $250,000 USD per day just to feed, provide clean water, basic medical attention and temporary shelter for these people.

"This is only the beginning as there remain tens of thousands of people still trapped in the battle zone making it virtually impossible to deliver any assistance beyond what is already there.

"What we need in Sri Lanka is an urgent ceasefire and access to the wounded and those in desperate need," concluded Mr de Groot.

To donate to the Caritas Australia Sri Lankan Humanitarian Crisis Appeal phone 1800 024 413 or visit www.caritas.org.au.