UN worker injured in Tiger shooting

Rasika Somarathna

*13 civilians also injured

*Injured admitted to Hospital

UN worker, Sutharshani Tharmila and 13 others were injured when the LTTE shot at them when they arrived in the cleared areas of Puthukudiyirippu on Saturday evening.

More than 1,200 displaced people had braved Tiger attacks during the past few days seeking refuge with Government authorities in cleared areas.

The injured had been admitted to the Vavuniya Hospital, military sources said.

Amidst reports of indiscriminate shooting by the LTTE to prevent an exodus, more civilians kept arriving at various locations in the cleared areas of Vanni by yesterday.

Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Risath Bathuideen said that 250 IDPs had been brought to Mannar by noon yesterday, with another 350 waiting near Omanthai to gain entry into Vavuniya.

In addition, more than 400 civilians had arrived in Kilinochchi, the Minister added.

The Minister said out of them, more than 600 would be settled in Vavuniya Welfare Centres. A large number of children and women are among those who sought refuge with authorities, he added.

A young boy was also reported killed in an LTTE fire directed at a group of civilians numbering 58 fleeing the Tigers in the Puthukudiyirippu area on Friday. Meanwhile, the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) with the assistance of the Navy transported 423 displaced civilians from Puttumattalan to Trincomalee on board the vessel ‘Green Ocean’ on Saturday.

Military sources said 592 IDPs had reached cleared areas of Puthukudiyirippu on foot, the same day. They had been referred to welfare centres after being provided with refreshments and medical care.

Minister Bathuideen while admitting that the conditions in the safe zone was deteriorating due to bad weather and LTTE atrocities, said all relevant sectors including the international community should pressurize the LTTE into allowing the free movement of IDPs kept hostage by the Tigers.

He added that the Government had all arrangements in place to receive these IDPs and house them in temporary welfare centres, until they are provided with permanent facilities. According to authorities more than 34,000 displaced civilians had arrived in Vavuniya from uncleared areas since January this year. In addition, a lesser number of IDPs had also been brought to Jaffna and Trincomalee during the course of this time.