Security Forces call for coordinated effort for transporting food to uncleared areas

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

BATTICALOA: Security Forces in Batticaloa yesterday called for a well-coordinated effort for transporting essential food items for the civilian population in the uncleared areas in Vakarai since there was no proper security escort for food convoys bound to uncleared areas.

The Field Commanders in Batticaloa made this appeal yesterday after hundreds of internally displaced people who had taken refuge at the Mankerni refugee camp looted a food convoy consisting of five lorry loads when the lorries were stopped at the Mankerni refugee camp.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said Security Forces Field Commanders in Batticaloa had emphasised to the Government Agent and the ICRC the need to ensure the LTTE's involvement in the process of transporting food convoys to uncleared areas in Vakarai.

Brigadier Samarasinghe told the Daily News that Government Agent, the ICRC and the SLMM had been involved in transporting food convoys to Vakarai on Saturday and had not consulted the Security Forces with regard to the security of the food convoy.

The Security Forces on Saturday agreed to cease the firing of artillery and mortars towards Vakarai area to facilitate the transport of essential items to Vakarai area by the GA and the ICRC.

However, the food convoy which left Batticaloa around 11.30 am had to stop at Chenkaladi due to the closure of the road caused by continued mortar fire towards the Chenkaladi Army camp by the LTTE, Brigadier Samarasinghe added.

As the food convoy reached Mankerni the LTTE again started firing mortars towards Mankerni area compelling the drivers to stop the food convoy near a refugee camp in Mankerni.

"The civilians who had fled the Vakarai area sheltered at the Mankerni refugee camp looted the five lorry loads after it was stopped there around 4.45 pm on Saturday. There is no Security Forces involvement in this incident," Brigadier Samarasinghe added.

The Security Forces could do nothing to prevent such incidents involving people desperately in need of food and essential items, the Brigadier said.

"Therefore, there is an urgent need to have a well coordinated system to transport food and essential items to uncleared areas even with the participation of the LTTE and our field commanders in Batticaloa had communicated this message to the Government," Brigadier Samarasinghe added.