No food shortage in Vanni - Minister
Rafik JALALDEEN
The Government denied LTTE and claims by its sympathizers that over
200,000 civilians entrapped in the uncleared areas in the Vanni are
facing a severe food and medical shortage and charged that it was an
LTTE ploy to gain international sympathy and support.
Addressing the media at the Media Centre for National Security
yesterday, Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said
there were reports from LTTE and pro-LTTE elements that 200,000
civilians trapped in the uncleared areas in the Vanni were facing a
severe shortage of food and medicine. "The LTTE's key administrative
town Kilinochchi was captured by troops within 48 to 72 hours of
operation and there wasn't even a trace of a single civilian," he added.
Minister Rambukwella reiterated that the Government had dispatched
relief items including fuel to the civilians living at the IDP centres
in the Vanni region. The relief items had been given to a prominent INGO
by the Essential Services Commissioner to be distributed in the Vanni.
"Troops unearthed a massive LTTE diesel storage and found 300 barrels
of fuel buried in a huge coconut plantation in Dharmapuram. These were
given to the civilians in the Vanni by the Government. However, known or
unknown to the INGO, the fuel ended up with the LTTE," the Minister
remarked.
Minister Rambukwella noted that according to intelligence sources
over 200 injured Tigers are being treated at Government hospitals in the
Vanni. The Government had dispatched a medical team with adequate
medicine.
"We have sent a medical team and medicine for our brothers and
sisters who are caught in the grip of the LTTE. We are aware that these
medicine will be used for the wounded LTTE cadres.
On humanitarian grounds we have no objections to the use of our
medicine by the injured Tigers," he added.
The Security Forces have also expanded a Safe Zone for civilians
entrapped in LTTE held areas. The Air Force have dropped leaflets to
inform civilians of the safe passages. |
