Danielle Vella

For the first time, Mgr Zenari has addressed whoever is responsible for the disappearance of the two Catholics: "Recognize your fault and act accordingly".

Catholics gathered to St John's church in the north to pray and march for Fr Jim, who has been missing for five days. The military and civil authorities are suspected of hiding the truth.

The Church of Jaffna has launched an urgent appeal: the government must intervene to discover where Fr Jim Brown is. There has been no news of the young priest since 20 August; he was last seen at a checkpoint as he was going to his new parish in Allaipiddy.

On 15 August, many Tamil and Sinhalese were unable to reach Madhu because of the sudden closure of entry points to rebel-held northern territory. Others were trapped on the wrong side of the border, separated from their families. Witnesses tell what they saw.

The appeal to stop the conflict is aimed especially at the EU, the United States, Norway and Japan. Within a week, 90 civilians were killed, 150 injured and 25,000 people were displaced.

The Jesuit Refugee Service has joined its voice to other aid agencies that are being prevented by the Sinhalese government from reaching thousands of displaced people who have fled the conflict.

More people have been displaced as clashes continue between the army and rebels although the Maavilaru canal has been reopened. A Jesuit Refugee Service worker in Muthur tells of her experience as she fled from the shelling.

At the funeral of the victims of "army reprisals", Bishop Joseph invited the community to forgiveness. He has written to Vatican representatives about what happened and warned: "If the military do not free themselves of their anti-Tmail prejudice, there will never be security".

On World Refugees Day, the director of the Jesuit Refugee Service remembers "with a glimmer of hope" the forgotten plight of Bhutanese refugees. By contrast, the fate of Burmese refugees in Thailand is going from bad to worse.

On Saturday, grenades damaged the parish church of Pesalai, which was full of civilians in search of refuge from violence in the area. A woman was killed. The military have accused the Tamil Tigers but the bishop and local Catholics said it was Navy men, "rampaging through the area".

Thousands of people attended the funeral of an entire family killed near Vankalai. The army and the rebels have exchanged mutual accusations. The parish priest: People are killed indiscriminately here, we are terrified. And the situation does not look hopeful.

The national director of the Jesuit Refugee Service "discovers" the generous hospitality of the poor towards their fellow citizens who are seeking refuge. "Their desire to share the little they have with others is a sign of the presence of God".