Calls to help refugees

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 20:43 GMT]
The People's Progressive Centre of Jaffna has asked more people in Jaffna to come forward and help more than 30,000 families who are facing starvation in Kilinochchi and Mullaitheevu districts. The families have been affected by the cut the Sri Lanka Government imposed on the dry rations to the refugees living in areas not controlled by it.

Following this a large number of people in Jaffna have come forward to help the needy people in Vanni, said sources in Jaffna.

Some families, themselves dependent on dray rations, have donated part of their ration, the sources added.

Twenty thousand rupees has been donated to this fund by people living in Koiyathoddam in Jaffna and they are planning to donate more the sources said.

Meanwhile the bishop of Jaffna, Thomas Saundranayagam, said that he has sent a letter to the Sri Lankan President explaining the difficulties faced by the people in Vanni and has urged the government to re-start distribution of dry ration to displaced people in Vanni.