2ND LEAD

ICRC evacuates 360 more patients to Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 February 2009, 12:41 GMT]
The ICRC on Thursday evacuated second batch of 360 injured and sick patients from makeshift hospitals in Puthumaaththa'lan and Thaevipuram in Vanni to Trincomalee in chartered vessel 'Green Ocean', according to medical sources. The foreign officials of the ICRC who came to Vanni, have also returned in the ship, the sources further said. Meanwhile, informed sources in Colombo said that the ICRC was not allowed by the GoSL to have foreign officials to operate in Vanni as it would no longer guarantee their security. Colombo government is also pressing the remaining health workers to leave Vanni with ICRC escort.

Earlier on Tuesday the first batch of injured were evacuated by the ICRC and brought to Trincomalee. Three of the patients died on admission.

The Tuesday's evacuation of injured came after government denied medical supplies for the month of December 2008 and January 2009.

The medical quota was still lying at the RDHS sub-office in Vavuniyaa.

Chronology: