Wounded CARE aid worker dies due to lack of medicine in 'safety zone'

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 March 2009, 05:20 GMT]
A 24-year-old humanitarian worker of the CARE International has succumbed to his injuries caused by a shell attack inside the no-fire zone (safety zone) in Mullaiththeevu, said Nick Osborne, Country Director for CARE International in Sri Lanka on Wednesday. The victims leg had to be amputated following the injury, and he died on Tuesday lacking necessary medical treatment.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the loss of our friend and colleague Sabesan," said Mr. Nick Osborne.

Mr. Sabesan had continued to work alongside his CARE colleagues as an aid volunteer under the direction of the Government Agent, distributing aid and providing support to affected people.

The Regional Directors of Health Services for Mullaiththeevu and Ki'linochchi districts on Saturday urged the Sri Lankan health ministry to send medicines as only 5% of the medicines

Regional Directors of Health Services for Ki'linochchi and Mullaiththeevu districts, Dr. T. Varatharajah and Dr. T. Saththiyamoorthy, Monday jointly urged the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health to supply medicines intended for the civilians in Vanni at least in the next ICRC shipment.

Only 5% of the combined quota of medicine and dressings meant for the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of this year was earlier transported by the ICRC.

"We were shocked and felt very sad when we were informed by the ICRC that no medicines have been handed over by the ministry officials to be taken in the ship," the doctors said.

"Many deaths could have been prevented if basic infrastructure facilities and essential medicines were made available."