New Dengue fever outbreak in Batticaloa
ICRC warns of malnutrition in the east
THE International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has informed Batticaloa's senior civil administrator, Government Agent (GA) Pathmanathan that a large number of people are malnourished in the LTTE-controlled Vaharai area north of Batticaloa town.
An ICRC escorted food convoy of eight lorries is allowed in once a month, but civilians are prohibited from taking food into the area. In late April, Batticaloa's military coordinator also refused ICRC permission and the food lorries are held in Valaichenai despite a decision to send additional food at the Provincial Security Committee meeting chaired by North-East Governor Gamini Fonseka. Since January no fuel has reached Vaharai and transport was suspended in early April. The military insists that these measures are necessary to prevent food falling into the hands of the LTTE. The rest of Batticaloa also may suffer, as planned Yala rice cultivation on 16,000 hectares has not begun because of restrictions on fuel, fertiliser and vehicles. Mr Pathmanathan has urged eastern Civil Coordinator Cyril Peiris to take urgent action to avoid food shortages.
Hospitals in Batticaloa admitted over 300 people suffering from dengue fever which killed 21 people in April. Health Minister Fowzie ordered the immediate despatch of 100 litres of malathion spray from Colombo to prevent spread of the disease.
The Tigers ambushed an Army patrol at Welikanda on 11 April killing a soldier and injuring another three. Another soldier died when LTTE shelled Paithalai Army camp on 13 April. Two days later police posts in Eravur came under attack. LTTE shot dead TELO local council member Asokan on 14 April.
The Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa train was damaged in a LTTE landmine attack on 20 April at Mylambaveli. The following day two policemen were killed in a Special Task Force (STF)-Tiger clash at Thuraivandiyamadu. Large areas were plunged into darkness when the LTTE blasted electricity transformers in Kalmunai and Pandiruppu on 22 April.
Further south in Amparai District, over 100 Tigers attacked the Pulukunawa STF camp on 5 April killing 16 policemen and wounding another four. Three Tigers were killed in the attack. Amnesty International says that Tamils K Mahesan, M Kiruparan and M Jeevarasa arrested by the STF on 29 March have disappeared. The Human Rights Task Force (HRTF) set up to safeguard welfare of detainees, has been unable to obtain any information about them.
In Trincomalee District, the Army killed two Tigers at Pallikudyiruppu on 9 April. Reports say the LTTE fired on civilians gathering firewood near Srimangalapuram. A man was injured and another abducted. In an Army ambush at Kovilady on 14 April four Tigers and a soldier were killed.
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