Relief supplies from Tamil Nadu still not reached Vanni

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 November 2008, 05:25 GMT]
Emergency relief supplies, sent by the efforts of Tamil Nadu people and their government, received in 100 containers in Colombo 11 days ago, have not reached Vanni due to the sabotage by the Sri Lankan military, a top government official, who did not wished to be named, told TamilNet. Severe flooding has cut off Vanni on Wednesday. However, contradicting to the ground reports, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi was made to believe that the supplies were reaching the affected civilians unhindered.

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday told BBC Tamil Service that the affected were receiving the aid supplied by Tamil Nadu “without any disruption” and the only remaining concern was an immediate ceasefire. Mr. Karunanidhi also said that an All Party Meeting convened by him on Tuesday had resolved to send parliamentarians to New Delhi to discuss the matter with Indian Prime Minister on 28 November and that he would personally lead a delegation of all party leaders on 04 December.

While the ICRC was making transport arrangements to move the supplies to Vanni, the Sri Lankan military launched attacks along the main supply routes and 'disabled' the ICRC's presence at Oamanthai by prompting to re-negotiate the location of the crossing.

The remaining access road, which runs through Nedungkea'ni from Pu'liyangku'lam in Vavuniyaa towards Mullaiththeevu was also targeted by the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU).

The SLA attacked a civilian vehicle with a white-flag was on its way back to Vavuniyaa, after supplying newspapers to Vanni on 18 November. A 12-year-old boy, his 53-year-old father and a 34-year-old man were killed on the spot at Channasip-Paranthan, 5 km north of Pu'liyangku'lam on Pu'liyangku'lam on this road.

On Tuesday, 20 vehicles that were carrying supplies to Vanni returned to Vavuniyaa as the road was flooded.

Chronology:


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