ICRC helps Trinco cyclone victims

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 January 2001, 04:05 GMT]
Over 2,200 families which lost their dwellings in the cyclone that ravaged the Muttur and Eechilampathai divisions of the Trincomalee District on 26 December are being provided with plastic tents and cooking utensils by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC). Government relief for the cyclone affected population in this region was not readily available as the Liberation Tigers control most parts of these two administrative divisions in southern Trincomalee.

Many villages in the Muttur and Eechilampathai divisions including Iakkanthai, Verugal-muhathuwaram, Ilankaithurai-muhathuwaram, Paattalipuram, Sampoor, Koonitheevu and Nallur were devastated by the cyclone.

Three lorry loads of plastic tents and cooking utensils were taken to Muttur on Tuesday and are being distributed among the affected families there sources said. Two more lorry-loads of plastic tents and cooking utensils have also been sent to Muttur, an ICRC official said.

In the meantime, on a request made by the Government Agent, Trincomalee, the ICRC has agreed to provide escort for transporting dry rations to the LTTE held areas in the Muttur and Eechilampathai divisions to be distributed among the cyclone victims.