Elderly IDP deaths escalate - Coronor

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 May 2009, 14:19 GMT]
“More elders die in transit camps located for Vanni displaced persons located in Vavuniyaa due to lack of proper facilities. Hence I appeal to the authorities to send elders displaced from Vanni direct to Homes for the Elderly instead of IDP camps. This would prevent more deaths of elders in IDP camps,” said the Chettikulam Inquirer into Sudden Deaths, Mr.E. Sahul Hameed, media reports said.

Hameed added that from Thursday morning till Friday noon during last week sixteen elders died as they were not properly cared for by the authorities.

Thousands of elders over the age of sixty are still in four IDP internment camps located in Vavuniyaa.

But facilities to take proper care of the elderly do not exist in the internment camps, and the authorities are not allowing nutritious food and milk food products into the IDP camps, according to media reports.

Last rites of elders die in IDP camps are held by the State with the permission of relatives who do not have the financial means to give proper burial, media sources said quoting Hameed.