NorthEast death toll nears 10,000, Amparai badly hit

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 December 2004, 15:07 GMT]
"More than 10,000 people are dead in areas across NorthEast. In Amparai alone there were 5350 dead," said Liberation Tigers, Tuesday afternoon. Cadres of Liberation Tigers and local non-Governmental organizations are working round the clock to provide rescue and relief effort to people in Mullaitivu, said Col.Soosai, Head of the Sea Tiger Wing of the Liberation Tigers. "No international aid from Donor agencies have reached Vanni, and we are using our own resources and assistance provided by the expatriate Tamils which is beginning to reach us," Soosai added.



Most parts of Amparai are difficult to reach by land and relief supplies have to be taken by sea routes one relief worker said. Also, a lorry belonging to the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) carrying relief supplies to the east was stopped by Sri Lanka Security personnel in Habarana but was later released after TNA MP, R Sampanthan, intervened.

LTTE statement said that death toll in Batticaloa district is 1504.

Since the fear of the spread of infectious diseases is high, the Liberation Tigers have given direction to take photographs of bodies unclaimed before burying them in mass burials.

Col.Soosai, speaking from Mullaitivu said: "Only 6 or 7 boats belonging to our fishermen are left usable after the tsunami. More than 1500 boats have been washed away into the sea. In one of our children's home we lost nearly 65 children to the waves."

"There is an urgent need for basic relief aid and medical facilities at the 221 Welfare Centers in the 6 districts," LTTE said in its statement.