Another 729 civilians rescued

Rafik JALALDEEN

Over 729 displaced civilians fleeing LTTE captivity had been rescued by Navy and Army on Wednesday.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that around 118 civilians sought protection with the Army 58 division in Ampalavanpokkerni. They included 51 children, 36 females and 31 males.

“Another 74 civilians fleeing LTTE atrocities have been rescued by troops in Munai, Jaffna on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Navy rescued 537 sick and wounded civilians accompanied by their close relatives from Puthumaththalan on Wednesday in an ICRC chartered ship MV Green Ocean.

Navy Spokesman Captain D.P.K. Dassanayake said the 19th batch of 537 patients and civilians were evacuated on board MV Green Ocean on Wednesday.

“While the Navy provides safe passage to civilians escaping LTTE captivity, the evacuation of patients and civilians were being carried out by the ICRC,” he added.

“The sick and wounded civilians who disembarked in Pulmuddai were provided with emergency medical treatment by Naval doctors taken to the Field Hospital and the General Hospital in Padaviya. The 19th batch consisted of 153 adult males, 168 adult females and 216 children. Among them were 107 males and 63 females needing medical treatment.

The Navy as part of its humanitarian operations, has put in place a number of comprehensive evacuation measures to facilitate the evacuation process.

The naval troops and vessels along with stand-by rescue and medical teams are on special deployment in the North-eastern seas for assisting civilians fleeing from the LTTE.