All essential items provided to IDPs:

Air Force joins humanitarian mission

The Sri Lanka Air Force has turned its transport fleet and aircraft and helicopters to facilitate the transportation of all essential items needed for thousands of civilians arriving in military controlled areas from the 'No Fire Zone' during the past few days, Air Force Spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara told the Daily News yesterday.

The MI-17 and Bell-212 helicopters and C-130, AN-32 and Y-12 aircraft engaged in this humanitarian mission of transporting essential items to fulfill the requirements of the civilians arriving in military controlled areas.

These aircraft and helicopters were flown from Sri Lanka Air Force bases in Koggala, Ratmalana, Anuradhapura, Hingurakgoda and Vavuniya. Since April 22, the SLAF aircraft and helicopters transported 111,203 packets of cooked meals, 111,970 buns, 35,245 loafs of bread, 30,902 biscuit packets, 3,361 boxes of biscuits, 25,000 packets of Samaposha, 33,424 packets of milk powder, 57,655 bottles of water, the Air Force spokesman added. (RW)