Observers say heavy bombardment by the newly acquired MIG-27 planes and attacks using multi-barrel rocket launchers, which began four days earlier, had little effect on the LTTE. The 5,000 troops came under intense mortar fire by small LTTE units and suffered heavy casualties. The Army was forced to withdraw within eight hours. More than 250 soldiers were killed and 800 wounded. The Army gained only a 200-metre territory in Columbuthurai. Reports say over 75 Tigers were also killed.
As political parties descended on Jaffna for election campaign in August, the LTTE and the Army continued to exchange shell fire. Several civilians were wounded and more people were displaced. The ICRC say 160,000 people have left their homes and majority have found shelter with friends or relatives. Some 17,000 people are in 136 refugee camps in western Valikamam and north-eastern Vadamaratchy.
TULF’s Mavai Senathirajah, who visited Jaffna in early August, says that a refugee family is provided rice worth Rs 1,260 ($16) a month, which is not sufficient even for ten days. Jaffna needs 2.6 million litres of fuel a month, including kerosene. Reports say distribution has become difficult as a result of the security zones and other military restrictions. Further, the Army has commandeered four bowsers belonging to the Petroleum Corporation.
There are allegations that shortage of wheat flour and fuel is affecting civilians and government officers are encouraging a thriving black market. In early August, Jaffna’s senior state officer Government Agent (GA) K Shanmuganathan urged the Cooperative Commissioner to investigate the incident in which wheat flour issued to cooperative stores ended up in the hands of private traders.
The GA says Rs 50 million ($632,000) is spent on relief each month and that he has pointed out to the government that the food supply to the peninsula is insufficient. But he denied that there was malnutrition or starvation. Although Rs 250 million ($3 million) was allocated for the current year for Jaffna development, Colombo Treasury has not released part of the funds making it difficult for the Jaffna government secretariat to implement programmes.
The Army say two Tiger infiltrators were shot dead in Chemmani on 5 August. R Suvendrarajah was wounded by a landmine at Kadduvan in mid-August and died in hospital. Tiger shells injured S Pamini, 12, in late August at Puthur. She also died in hospital.