Navy evacuates more sick civilians

RAFIK JALALDEEN

Navy evacuated the 16th batch of 540 sick civilians and their relatives on board the ICRC chartered vessel ‘MV Green Ocean’ on Monday.

Navy spokesman Captain D.K.P.Dassanayaka told the Daily News that the evacuation of patients and their relatives trapped in the uncleared areas in Mullaithivu had been carried out under the ICRC flag. “The Navy were providing safe passage for evacuees on humanitarian grounds”, he added.

The naval troops provided safe passage to evacuate a total of 540 sick civilians that consisted 144 children, 229 females and 167 males.

A spokesperson for the ICRC Sarasi Wijeratne said the ICRC chartered vessel ‘Green Ocean’ evacuated the 16th batch of sick and wounded civilians on Sunday along with their relatives from Puthumathalan to Pulmoddai.