LTTE holds health staff hostage

Rasika Somarathna

Health officials yesterday claimed that the LTTE had virtually laid siege on the Puthukkudyiruppu hospital in the Maullaitivu district, even going to the extent of preventing its staff from leaving the premises.

Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage claiming that he had made an urgent plea to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to intervene, said even though the hospital staff was willing to move out with the patients, the Tigers were preventing them from doing so.

Quoting sources at Puthukkudyiruppu Hospital, Dr. Kahandaliyanage said the LTTE had placed their heavy artillery guns close to the hospital making the whole area vulnerable.

Dr. Kahandaliyanage added that by yesterday he had made an urgent appeal to the ICRC and relevant foreign missions to intervene on behalf of the trapped patients and medical staff.

He claimed that there were over 450 patients in the Puthukkudyiruppu hospital and authorities would attempt to evacuate them and others seeking treatment at three other locations in Mullaitivu on Thursday.

He added that authorities were prepared to accommodate any number of patients in Vavuniya and all facilities were available including medical staff and drugs.

It is believed that over 100,000 civilians are trapped in the remaining uncleared pockets in Vanni with the LTTE denying them free movement despite appeals to release them.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa offered a 48-hour window that expired on Saturday night for the LTTE to allow civilians to move into safer areas.

However, the LTTE ignored the unilateral truce continuing to keep civilians in the area in an attempt to stall the military.

Meanwhile, the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry said yesterday that the IDPs who had sought refuge with authorities had swelled to over 5,000.

More than 3,000 people have been housed at welfare centers in Vavuniya and another 1800 have sought refuge at centers in Jaffna.

Ministry sources said 1,000 acres of land had been cleared in Vavuniya to cater to an expected exodus in the coming weeks in addition to the existing facilities. They said these centers were equipped with all facilities including health, sanitary, schooling for children, banking, food etc.