Children in Vaharai starving for 48 hours - Jeyanandamoorthy MP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 November 2006, 13:13 GMT]
The children in Vaharai have been starving for 48 hours as no humanitarian supply has reached the region since November 05, Tamil National Alliance MP S. Jeyanandamoorthy who met Sri Lankan President with fellow TNA parliamentarians said Thursday evening. "Despite the fresh assurances from President of opening Valaichenai Vaharai Road at Mankerni entry point by Thursday noon, the road remains closed," the MP who returned from the parliament where TNA MPs staged a silent protest, told media. Meanwhile civil officials in Vaharai said that all food supplies including the latest emergency rice supplies from the Tigers, had dwindled.

"Civilians in Vaharai complain that the Sri Lankan military has launched military operation with an aim to block the humanitarian supplies," the TNA parliamentarian said.

The explanations given by the military for not allowing the supplies, indicate an agenda of starvation, Mr. Jeyanandamorthy says.

"The people, local NGOs and even the Government officials are complaining of continued shelling from three directions, north, west and south into Vaharai region. When they shell from the west, the soldiers at Mankerny in the South would say that the Tigers were shelling from west and keep the gateway closed," the MP said.

"We have urged the Government to declare a cessation of hostilities and allow humanitarian supplies into the region. The people who are on the run, fleeing from military operation, are isolated by the Government forces and forced to starve. This is a war thrust on people," the MP said.

Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse assured Thrusday morning that the gateway would be open by noon.

"However, there is no sign of improvement."

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