15 Tamil civilians feared killed, 41 wounded in 11 hour artillery barrage

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 December 2006, 19:18 GMT]
At least 15 civilians, including a 6-month-old baby, were feared killed and 41 wounded when SLA troopers fired artillery shells towards IDP camps in Vammivedduvan and Palchenai, medical sources in Vaharai told TamilNet. The parents of the baby killed in artillery barrage were admitted at Vaharai hospital. Nine dead bodies, 5 male and 4 female victims, were brought to hospital, according to doctor M. Varathan at Vaharai hospital. Ten of 26 patients, incuding children from 3-years to 15, admitted at hospital were at critical state. Many more were feared wounded. The SLA has refused access to ambulances from Batticaloa to transport wounded out of Vaharai.



ICRC was ready to help, but the SLA has refused access to ambulances, medical sources at Vaharai said.

Heavy artillery fire, that also reached sea, blocked the medical personnel to engage in boat transport.

15 wounded civilians were rushed to Thileepan medical service at Kathiraveli.

Fleeing refugees said dead bodies were being burried as people were fleeing from artilery fire.



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