Situation in Vanni Deteriorating - GA

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 July 1999, 07:43 GMT]
People in the Kilinochchi district are affected by shortages of food, malnutrition and disease due to the closure of an access route to the Vanni, according to T.Rasanayagam the Government Agent in Kilinochchi, said sources.

He has said that 5 public organisations in the district have written to him about the difficulties and suffering of the people in the district.

According to their memorandums a significant number of patients in the Akkarayankulam hospital are in a serious condition and need to be transported to Vavuniya for further treatment.

Their condition is said to be deteriorating.

Mr. Rasanayagam said that 75% of the population in the Vanni area are displaced refugees and are listed below the poverty line.

He has stressed that an access route should be opened immediately to prevent the situation becoming worse.

Meanwhile, ICRC officials who have been barricaded by thousands of displaced families have told the public that they have informed the relevent authorities of the situation in the Vanni and the request ofthe people.

At the same time hundreds of people stranded in Vavuniyagathered in front of the Kachcherie - the Government Agent's office in Vavuniya demanding that a route be opened so that they could go back to their homes in the LTTE controlled areas of Vanni.