Govt fully prepared for civilian exodus - Human Rights Minister

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The Government yesterday reiterated that it was fully prepared to handle the expected mass exodus of civilians from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu in the face of ongoing military operations.

Articulating the Government's position, Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe said yesterday that Vavuniya was being prepared as a humanitarian assistance hub to cater to the expected exodus.

A safe passage has been prepared for civilians fleeing Tiger clutches to reach Vavuniya and strict orders have been relayed to authorities and the military to provide assistance ,the Minister added.

Secretary to the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services A.C.M.Razeek speaking alongside Minister Samarasinghe at a media briefing yesterday said that authorities were fully geared to provide all necessary facilities for an expected exodus of around 200,000 civilians.

Facilities including temporary shelter, water, dry rations, cooked meals, clothes, medical assistance etc. have already been arranged Razeek added.

According to Razeek, additional food stocks have been sent to Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Killinochchi which he described as fully adequate until October.

During the last two weeks, Government agents of Vavuniya and Kilinochchi were provided with Rs.5 million and Rs.25 million worth of goods respectively to assist the needy, Razeek added.

Commissioner General of Essential Services S. Divaratne said that 75 per cent of medical and food requirements in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu was being provided by the Government through respective GAs in the area.

According to authorities, the Government's allocation of medical supplies for 2008 for these areas amount to Rs.1,560 million and the assistance has continued unabated.

In addition, authorities said that they had taken steps to send a batch of 28 nurses to Vavuniya in addition to mobile health units to assist the needy.

Hospitals in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi would function and enough medicine stocks have been sent to these facilities.

Registration of Wanni civilians

The Police last night urged civilians from the Wanni arriving in Colombo and other parts of the Western Province to submit their details to the nearest Police station on September 21 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

They are requested to bring identity documents to make registration easier, Police Spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara said.