The police say the LTTE killed two Sinhalese farmers and a Home Guard at Mahakachchakody in Vavuniya on 9 January. The Airforce bombed Mullaitivu on 24 January killing a civilian and wounding seven others, including four children.
While the LTTE and the Army fight in the Vanni, the ordeal of the refugees continues to cause concern. Government restrictions on food to Tiger-held areas in the Vanni remain. Torrential rains prevented food supply to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts in early January.
Rains have led to disease in the Vanni. Cholera is on the rise again and refugee student S Janita died of the disease in Mallavi. Refugees Suppiah Sinnammah and Santhalingam Renuka died in late January at Mulliyavalai in Mullaitivu District, after eating contaminated roots. Two others are seriously ill in Mullaitivu hospital. Reports say that these refugees had no access to food aid.
A survey by Kilinochchi Health Department indicates that 52% of the children below five years of age in 47 refugee camps in the district are malnourished. Shortage of medicines in the Vanni hospitals is making the situation worse. Kilinochchi Government Agent (GA) T Rajanayagam says malaria is spreading fast and drugs for the disease are not available in hospitals.
The displacement of 15,000 new refugees last month, following Army operation Rivi Bala (Sun Power) has put strain on the resources in Mullaitivu. The people have continued to demonstrate before the UNHCR office in Mallavi for the fourth month, demanding the international refugee agency to bring pressure on the Sri Lankan government to restore food aid to all refugees.