Appeal to help children in need.

Byline: Helen Thomas

TWO former Coventry mayors have backed an appeal by a city charity to help children in Sri Lanka suffering in the aftermath of the country's civil war.

The Bishop of Warwick has also given his support to the appeal by Radford-based Global Care.

As reported previously in the Coventry Telegraph the charity is sending out much needed funds to provide temporary shelter and toilets for 296 orphaned children living behind barbed wire in a camp for displaced people. They also want to provide care packs, costing about pounds 20 to put together and deliver, containing personal items including school equipment, basic clothing, a water bottle, towel, comb, soap, toothbrush and paste, a hat and a torch.

Former mayor Coun Ram Lakha, who was Lord Mayor in 2005-6, is encouraging as many people as possible to support the appeal.

He has had first-hand expe-riencof Global Care's work in southern Sri Lanka after visiting the charity's beach slum project in his first year as mayor to see how money raised in Coventry for people affected by the 2004 tsunami had been spent.

"I am very pleased Global Care has launched this appeal. If it's a child needing help, they will help - not because the child is Tamil or Sinhalese, but because it's a child in need."

Dave Batten, who was Lord Mayor between 2007-8, is also backing the appeal, which will help children currently living in dirty and overcrowded tents.

He said: "As we are all aware we are living in difficult times, but our recession pales into insignificance compared to the plight of young Tamil orphaned children."

Donations can be made online at www.globalcare.org.uk or by phone at 02476 601800.