Civilians urged to use escape routes

Vavuniya ready for exodus from Wanni:

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe yesterday urged displaced civilians living in the Wanni to follow suit making use of the proposed humanitarian corridor following the re-location of aid agencies from Kilinochchi to Vavuniya.

The Minister added that arrangements had been made to make Vavuniya a humanitarian assistance hub to cater to an expected exodus of IDPs who have been moving deeper into Mullaitivu due to LTTE pressure.

Authorities said the military had demarcated two No-Fire Zones in Oddusudan and Viswamadu for the Internally Displaced People to escape non-liberated areas as troops came within two kilometres of Kilinochchi town limits yesterday.

These zones, each of 10 square kilometre area in Mullaitivu, are to provide escape routes for fleeing civilians with military providing assistance when the IDPs reach their areas.

However assistance provided to the displaced in the Wanni would keep flowing uninterrupted, the Minister added with another convoy consisting of 750-1,000 tons of dry rations being transported to Wanni during the week with WFP help.

He said authorities would clear a secure avenue to help IDPs reaching Vavuniya, which would be protected from the conflict.

Commenting on the withdrawal of men and material by United Nations and other aid groups from Wanni in response to the Government’s request to relocate considering safety reasons, Minister Samarasinghe said he had received comprehensive statements from these organisations with regard to their work and logistics movements.

While noting that most of the equipment these organisations possessed had been brought to Vavuniya according to preliminary reports, the Minister however stressed that authorities were in the process of perusing detailed descriptions of logistics provided by them to get a more clearer picture.

Ones left behind have been mentioned in these reports as either been given to the GAs to facilitate humanitarian needs or has been disabled to prevent from being put to military use by the LTTE.

However there were reports regarding some stolen equipment as well in these reports, the Minister added.

The Government allowed these equipment to be taken to these areas purely on the understanding that these would be used to facilitate humanitarian needs and not otherwise, Minister Samarasinghe said adding that submitted reports by aid agencies would be compared with an inventory which authorities possessed to verify details.

While noting that the whole exercise had been done in a systematic and professional manner the Minister said this would enable continuity and would also lead to a better understanding between the two parties in addition to strengthening ties.

These organisations would be given assistance to continue their work unhindered by directing operations from Vavuniya, Minister Samarasinghe said.