Flood displaces 100,000 in Vanni, 25,000 in camps

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 February 2011, 08:25 GMT]
At least 100,000 Tamil civilians of around twenty five thousand families have been affected by the flood in the two districts of Vavuniyaa and Mullaiththeevu in Vanni. Sand bunds erected by the Sri Lanka Army are obstructing the flow of water reaching the sea. Hence the villages are flooded. The uprooted families are still not allowed to resettle between Mullaiththeevu and Puthukkudiyiruppu. In the meantime, informed sources said the occupying military was promoting the idea of opening transport services via Anuradhapura-Ma’nalaa’ru road, making inroad for Sinhala colonization.

The sluice gate of Kanakaraayan tank has been opened to release excess water.

9,484 members of 2,466 families have been displaced and sheltered in more than 45 centres in the two districts.

Ira’naimadu tank and other important tanks have been opened to release the excess water.

In the Vavuniyaa district alone in three DS divisions 72,394 members of 17,731 families have been staying in 34 welfare centres and in Mullaiththeevu 1,102 members of 308 families are in centres.

Land routes and communication with interior villages in the Vanni remained cut off due to heavy rains following severe flood raising fear among the people that main irrigation tanks are in the verge of breach at any time.

Public servants from outstations working offices in the region have left their station.