THE NORTH
Living in Jaffna
JAFFNA hospital Director Mrs N Kanagaratnam says that health
facilities must be upgraded urgently in all areas of the peninsula to
prevent diseases such as malaria, typhoid and diarrhoea.
Damage to the Jaffna hospital has been estimated at over Rs 50
million ($1 million). The hospital lacks medicines. There are no
surgeons and major surgeries are still conducted at Palaly military
base. Only around 650 of the 1,200 employees of the hospital have
returned to work. The Manthikai hospital in Point Pedro has only
seven doctors and has not received any medicine since
April.
Foreign and local journalists on their visit to Jaffna on 18 June
found many people wandering in search of food. Thenmaratchy
residents complain they have to walk several miles to Jaffna to buy
food. They are delayed at military checkpoints which open only at
7.30am, for several hours and arrive in Jaffna too late to receive
any food supplies.
A thriving black market has emerged and people say some
government officers are in league with the blackmarketeers.
Northern Province Resettlement & Rehabilitation Authority
(NPRRA) Chairman Somapala Gunadheera says that food and
medicine have to be transported by sea and only a few ships are
available. According to Trade minister Kingsley Wickremaratne,
essential goods transported to Jaffna by 16 private firms in
mid-June included 700 tonnes of rice, 12,000 cement bags and
10,000 bicycles.
The Jaffna University reopened on 15 June with 900 of the 3,000
students. Vice Chancellor P Balasundarampillai says equipment
worth Rs 300 million ($6 million), including 300 computers, has
been looted.
In Jaffna only 50% of students and teachers are attending schools.
Students are also delayed at checkpoints. Northern Army
Commander Maj.Gen. Neil Dias says checking student identity is
necessary to ensure security. Millions of rupees worth furniture
and equipment have disappeared from several schools.
Twenty five people have lost limbs in recent landmine explosions
and are receiving treatment at the Jaffna hospital. Landmines have
claimed over 30 civilian lives and are a major concern. A civilian
was killed and two others injured by a landmine on 14 June in
Jaffna town.
Following a visit by an EPDP delegation to Jaffna, the militant
groupÆs leader Douglas Devananda says 70% of the people are
critical of the LTTE. The government has prohibited other Tamil
militant groups into Jaffna with weapons fearing harassment of
civilians.
The Tigers continue to target the military throughout the
peninsula. Seven soldiers were killed in a Tiger ambush on 6 June
at Meesalai east of Chavakachcheri. The Defence Ministry says
seven Tigers were killed three days later at sea off Vetrilaikerni. A
naval vessel was blown up on 11 June near Karainagar naval base
injuring two sailors. A military vehicle was blasted in a LTTE
landmine attack west of Kilali on 21 June.
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