Refugees without food for weeks

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Refugees from Karadiyanaaru on the Chenkaladi - Badulla Road, 30 km northwest of Batticaloa, settled in Aiyankerni and the 4th ward of Eravur about 14 km north Batticaloa have not been supplied with dry rations since last month, said sources from Eravur.

The usual procedure for the distribution of dry rations from the Ministry of Rehabilitation is through the multi-purpose cooperatives (MPCS) in the areas.

However the MPCs complain that they are short of liquid cash to purchase new supplies of dry rations. This is due to the Ministry owing the MPCs 6.7 million rupees.