Aug 15, 2006

Dear Friends and well-wishers,

Recent events in the North and East of Sri Lanka are extremely tragic and well known to most of you. Over 100,000 Tamil and Muslim civilians have been rendered refugees by the indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombardments by the Sri Lankan forces in the Trincomalee and Jaffna districts. In Trincomalee district alone, more than 40,000 people are displaced and in dire need of assistance. Thousands of people are fleeing Jaffna and moving into LTTE controlled areas. TRO expects many more thousands will move into Wanni.

Currently TRO is taking care of 40,000 refugees in Muthur area and setting up shelter and facilities to help the people fleeing from Jaffna to Wanni. TRO is spending over $20,000 per day to provide assistance to these displaced people. Last week, seventeen aid workers working for Action Contre la Faim have been murdered at point blank range. Seven TRO employees kidnapped six months ago are still missing. Due to the harsh treatment to the NGOs, many of the NGOs are leaving the war-torn North-East. Even at difficult ground situation, TRO's employees and volunteers continue to provide assistance.

In the absence of government help and at very difficult ground situations, TRO has been providing aid to the civilian population. TRO has been helping people of North and East of Sri Lanka with multiple calamities over the last two decades. In Sri Lanka, the TRO has won many accolades for efficient utilization of funds and provision of services to displaced individuals with limited resources.

TRO funds are depleted and this is an urgent appeal to our well-wishers to contribute whatever you can in this difficult time. TRO is an approved charity in the USA and a 501 (c) 3 Organization. An independent evaluator of charities in the USA, Charity Navigator, has given the highest rating (four stars) to the TRO for the second consecutive year for sound fiscal management. All of our overhead is paid for by our Board of Directors, and 100% of your contributions will be sent to the TRO in Sri Lanka to help in their life saving efforts. The need is great and I appeal to you once again to donate as much as you can to aid in the plight of the latest group of Internally Displaced Persons. All donations will be appreciated and gratefully acknowledged.

Please visit our website www.trousa.org for more details.

Please mail your contributions (US tax deductable: Tax ID: 52-19-43868)  to the following address:

TRO
517 Old Town Road,
Cumberland, MD 21502

Thanking you,
N.A.Ranjithan.M.D.
President,TRO (USA)