UNHCR urged to take action
[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 December 1998, 11:00 GMT]
The Consortium of Non Governmental Organisation (NGOs) in Puthukudiyeryppu, in the Mullaithivu district has sent a memorandum to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The memorandum urged the UNHCR to, "visit the area to see for themselves the suffering of the newly displaced people from Oddusuddan area and to take appropriate steps to provide relief assistance".
The memorandum went on to say, "more than fifteen thousand people are newly displaced due to the latest offensive by the Sri Lankan Army, which was launched on December 3 to capture Oddusuddan area. The displaced, depended mainly on farming and to escape from the advancing army, had fled to Puthukudiyeruppu leaving behind their farms, cattle and personnel belongings."
"They do not have proper accommodation and schools, places of worship and public buildings are filled with the displaced people and many have found shelter under trees along roadsides" the NGOs said.
The memorandum further said that military operations have forced the people in the area to lead a displaced life for a long time and pointed out that most of the displaced from Oddusuddan were displaced people from other areas du to earlier operations as 'Sath Jaya', 'Jeyasikurui' etc.
"The displaced are permanently deprived of normal facilities, and they eagerly hope that you or your representatives visit them and take appropriate steps to provide necessary humanitarian assistance, the memorandum has said."
Meanwhile sources in Mallavi hospital said a young mother had given birth to a Siamese-twin girls on December 8. They said the twins died one and a half hours after the birth.
The mother Uthayachanthiran Anula is a displaced woman from Kilinochchi, and had sought refuge at 8th mile post in Akkarayankulam, according to the sources.