The main objective of the establishment of HUDEC in 1973 by the late Bishop of Jaffna, Rt. Rev. Dr. B. Deogupillai, was to manage an emergency situation when displaced individuals fled from the South due to ethnic violence. Immediate assistance in meeting basic needs and long-term settlement programs were initiated in 5 districts.
HUDEC Caritas Vanni has been working to help the people affected by a 30-year war, with multiple displacements and also suffered from natural disasters such as floods and consequent loss of livelihood. In its continued effort to reconstruct, rehabilitate and resettle these affected people it also gives attention: to education of the children to help regain their emotional and psychological integrity.
With over 40 years of experience, HUDEC Caritas Vanni supports marginalized communities regardless of ethnicity and religion, especially after disasters. In December 2004, following the tsunami, HUDEC provided temporary and permanent shelters, livelihood assistance for fishing and agriculture, psychosocial support, and educational scholarships.
Eelam War IV (2006-2009) was an armed conflict between the Sri Lankan military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that started in July 2006 and ended on 18 May 2009 with the Sri Lanka Army gaining control over the Vanni region.
In a notice issued in 2008, the government of Sri Lanka announced that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) would no longer be allowed to continue their humanitarian work in Vanni and were evacuated immediately. At the same time, the Sri Lankan government enforced an economic embargo on the Vanni region. As soon as they had received the order from the government, many INGOs and NGOs vacated the Vanni region immediately. Only two humanitarian organizations opted to work for the war victims in Vanni: HUDEC Cartas Vanni and ICRC.
HUDEC Caritas, trusting the Word of God and the Providence of God, continued her noble work to affect from place to place amidst aerial attacks, shelling, and mass displacement. In September 2008, HUDEC Caritas was forced to move towards the East. The Mullaitievu District HUDEC office was stationed at Uadayarkaddu, from where HUDEC rendered the services such as food and non-food relief, temporary shelters, temporary to lets, medical assistance, milk powder to the babies and infants, assistance for burials, and psychosocial support to the war victims.
the end of January 2009, the physical structure of HUDEC Cartas was completely demolished by wavy motor shell attacks, and it was a great shock not only for the staff and the people but also for Cartas families, but the spirit of HUDEC Caritas was revitalized into a different form with a different vision and mission.
On 19 May 2009, the Eelam War IV came to an end, and the survivors of the last war were placed in IDP camps located in Cheddikulam and Manic Farm with very low quality of life. Most of them had undergone different levels of trauma as a result of the bitter experience of loss of some of their family members, such as fathers, mothers, and others. All were highly worried about their future. In Cheddikulam and Manic Farm. HUDEC Caritas Vanni offered the services to the survivors with volunteers.
In 2010, the resettlement was started by the government with international support. When they were resettled in their original places, they were compelled to start their life from zero. The majority in Vanni had been involved in fishing and farming prior to the war and accumulated a number of assets, such as fishing boats, tractors, transporting vehicles, etc. During the displacement, they had left behind all assets, and survival of life became a priority for them. This is a big challenge in the region of Vanni to rebuild their life with viable economic growth and social standards.
In order to support the returnees, in June 2010, the HUDEC Caritas Office was reopened with a new director and staff. Since the needs of people were a lot, it was very difficult to meet them. The government agent of the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu areas was allocated for NGOs. Since the government has largely restored physical infrastructure facilities, the basic psychological and physical needs of the people were not met. HUDEC Caritas, with the support of Caritas Sri Lanka, started the activities to heal the wounds of people. But later, HUDEC Caritas started her mission to shift from charity to sustainability, from aid to economic development and empowerment programs.