![Nasreen in her vegetable garden, Pakistan. [Caritas]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/pakistan/images/nasreen/908662-1-eng-GB/nasreen_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![More than 700 campaigners rallied before delivering anti-poverty messages to every EU embassy in London [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/media_folder/cafod/images/campaign_images/trade_justice_campaign_images/embassy_bus/199633-2-eng-GB/embassy_bus_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![Fatna (right) brings home wood that she and some neighbours have harvested from outside the camp in Kubum, south Darfur [Paul Jeffery/ACT/Caritas]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/sudan/images/fatna-right-brings-home-wood/247664-2-eng-GB/fatna-right-brings-home-wood_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![Niccollette and Shrirvanie film the aftermath of the Guyanan floods, with support from CAFOD partner Guyana Human Rights Association [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/what-we-do/communications/images/after-guyana-floods/679742-1-eng-GB/after-guyana-floods_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
Sri Lanka
![The CAFOD-funded National Federation of Fishworkers organises fishermen to defend their rights [Nithila Mariampillai/HUDEC]](/var/storage/images/media_folder/cafod/images/international_images/asia/sri_lanka/fisherman_throwing_net/2862-2-eng-GB/fisherman_throwing_net_medium.jpg)
Decades of violent conflict has killed more than 100,000 people, left many more injured and homeless, and massively damaged the economy and social infrastructure
Despite being officially classed as a lower middle income country, this masks inequality, with half the population living below the poverty line, and a fall in state support for education, health, and other social services.
Key challenges
Conflict: Hostilities between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are ongoing, despite ceasefires, but efforts continue to resolve the conflict, and address the “climate of impunity” which allows major human rights violations to go unchallenged.
Migration: Leaving rural agriculture for work in city factories is a growing trend, fuelling concerns about insufficient jobs, as well as environmental degradation, and the break-up of village community life. Factory workers also face exploitative working and living conditions.
Over-fishing is a growing problem alongside ecologically harmful methods used by bigger operators.
Emergencies: In the north and east - most affected by fighting - many families remain stuck in welfare centres, unable to return home, while those who do have to start again from scratch.
These areas were also the most heavily affected by the tsunami, and rehabilitation has been hampered by the conflict.
![Linus Jayatilake is a member of CAFOD partner, MONLAR (Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform) in Sri Lanka. He is also president of the United Federation of Labour [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/media/cafod/images/asia/sri_lanka/linus_jayatilake_monlar/2988-1-eng-GB/linus_jayatilake_monlar_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg)
A keen awareness of the importance of our environment is an important element in MONLAR's vision of a more just world |
Srama-abimani provides welfare and recreational facilities for young women factory workers in the Free Trade Zone north of Colombo |
![Sri Lanka celebrates International Women's Day, 2007 [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/media_folder/cafod/images/international_images/asia/sri_lanka/international_women_s_day_2007/258568-1-eng-GB/international_women_s_day_2007_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg) Making a stand for common goals CAFOD partner Savisthri (Women for Development Alternatives) works with women from fishing communities, farming villages and tea plantations |
 Cardinal visits Sri Lanka one year on Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor went to Sri Lanka to meet tsunami survivors and find out what CAFOD and its partners are doing to help |
 Priest tragically killed in Sri Lanka CAFOD is deeply shocked and saddened by news of the death of Rev Fr Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith, 40, a priest who was killed in Sri Lanka on 26 September |
 Rebuilding homes, rebuilding confidence Just south of Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka, Caritas EHED (Eastern Human Economic Development) is working with communities building temporary homes for people made homeless during the tsunami. |
![More than three million people in Colombia have been forced to flee their homes during decades of fighting between guerrilla groups, paramilitaries and the army - the highest number of displaced people in the world after Sudan [CARITAS Colombia/CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/colombia/images/forced-to-flee-their-homes-/778622-1-eng-GB/forced-to-flee-their-homes-_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg) Support our partners in their struggle CAFOD has repeatedly asked the UK government to press the Colombian authorities to publicly defend human rights. Please support this call to action and the work of our partners in Colombia by emailing your MP now. YOU can make a difference |
![The CAFOD-funded National Federation of Fishworkers organises fishermen to defend their rights [Nithila Mariampillai/HUDEC]](/var/storage/images/media_folder/cafod/images/international_images/asia/sri_lanka/fisherman_throwing_net/2862-2-eng-GB/fisherman_throwing_net_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg)
A regular donation or gift from you to support CAFOD's charity work can help end poverty. |
 Shop for your Christmas cards and gifts Fairly-traded Christmas cards and gifts make wonderful presents for friends and family, while supporting our vital work at the same time |
