30,000 civilians stranded in Batticaloa

BATTICALOA: The ICRC said more than 30,000 people are trapped by the heavy fighting in Batticaloa. The ICRC yesterday evacuated 30 seriously injured civilians including 7 children and 16 caretakers from Vakarai but according to the humanitarian organisation more injured are to be taken to hospitals.

The wounded were sailed in boats under the ICRC flag to the Vakarai hospital. The severe cases have been taken to Valachchenai hospital. The evacuation was conducted in cooperation with the medical staff of the Italian Red Cross.

In response to an urgent request from the Health Service division of Jaffna, the ICRC airlifted 1,000 kg of drugs to the Peninsula. The drugs consisted of medicines needed for the treatment of Chikungunya, paracetamol and other analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs.