Other problems of civilians in the Vanni continue. NGO workers say that although 26,200 families qualify to receive food aid in Kilinochchi District, only 14,500 families are provided dry rations. The other families face starvation. Farming has been severely affected by restrictions on fuel and fertilisers. Between May and December last year, the district received only 520 barrels of kerosene whereas four times the amount is needed. The Government Agent has been allowed to take 1,100 tonnes of fertiliser into the district whereas request was made for 4,200 tonnes.
In Puthukudyiruppu hospital, 199 people were treated for anaemia in January and nearly 20% of the 135 children born in the hospital were under-weight. Kilinochchi District Medical Officer S Vigneswaran says over 2,000 people in the region need eye treatment and are unable to go to Vavuniya where facilities are available. In January, 14,800 people were treated in Kilinochchi hospital, including 1,450 for malaria. During the month, ten people died in the hospital. Over 10,970 patients were treated at Mallavi hospital, including 134 for diarrhoea. Seventeen died in the hospital.
In Vavuniya District, the court has ordered an investigation into the death of Jeyanthy Veerasingham, 25, who arrived from the Vanni on 16 February and was ordered to report at the Sanasa Army camp the next day. She reported at the camp and was taken to the 21 Brigade Army headquarters. On 18 February, the Army handed over her body to the Vavuniya hospital, claiming that she committed suicide by taking cyanide. Reports say S Sivalingam, 24, who went to Sanasa camp on 14 January on the orders of the Army has disappeared.
In Mannar District, the Army arrested firewood seller K Uthayakumar, 42, at his residence on on Mannar Island on 28 February. His dead body was handed over to the Mannar hospital later. Mr Uthayakumar was a refugee from Jaffna. In the first five days of February, the Army arrested 25 refugees on Mannar Island. Their whereabouts are unknown. They were all refugees from Vidataltivu area on the mainland. Further south in Puttalam District, 400 Tamils were rounded-up in a search operation on 1 February and 40 were detained at the Chilaw police station.