The Zakat Foundation of America

Aug 25, 2008

Hundreds of Muslims Murdered as 40,000 others flee for safety

Within the first few days of August, eye witnesses report intensified conflict between the Liberation Tamil Tiger of Ealam (LTTE) group and the government of Sri Lanka. LTTE has massacred hundreds of Muslims as they fled from their homes in the city of Muttur, Sri Lanka. This town, which is predominantly Muslim, has been the focus of this latest and most unpredicted violence.

As the assault on the city began, Muslims attempted to flee. Eyewitness reports stated that as they left their homes that the Tamil Tigers stopped the refugees and began forcing families to separate. They murdered men on the spot and left many women as widows and children as orphans. As others saw this action they attempted to flee but could not outrun the sadistically fired bullets of the Tamil Tigers.

Today, the refugees are living in a very difficult situation. As of now there are approximately 20 refugee shelters that have been established. Within these shelters there are now almost 40,000 people surviving within. The Zakat Foundation extends its hand as it has in the past to the suffering of Sri Lanka. Through our local partners we have already delivered some of the most urgently needed supplies such as food, clean water, powdered milk and personal hygiene products.

The Zakat Foundation has pledged $10,000 to help support the refugees, but this is not enough. Please help us to help our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka in this most difficult of times. Bear in mind that these are the same peoples whom the Tsunami devastated by the thousands in December 2004, and they have not yet fully recovered from that disaster.