Families of Vanni disappeared strapped in poverty

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 May 2003, 10:43 GMT]
Families and relatives of 184 Tamils who disappeared after being arrested by Sri Lanka security forces between 1996 and 1998 while the forces occupied Kilinochchi, have not been given assistance by any Government authorities or any Humanitarian organizations and are living in abject poverty, sources in Kilinochchi said.

Many of the disappeared are alleged to have been murdered by the Security forces while in detention. Many of the killed are the only wage earners in their families and their loss have made their families destitute, sources said. Many children do not attend to school, sources added.

Organizations have recorded their details several times but help has not been forthcoming.

Skeletons belonging to 71 persons have been recovered from wells, sewage pits or in shallow waters. 13 of these have been identified by their relatives. Remains of the others were too disfigured for any positive identification, sources said.