One Vaharai IDP dead, another critical

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 December 2006, 14:00 GMT]
Deaths, caused by the acute shortage of medicine at Vaharai hospital and the continuing Sri Lanka Army (SLA) heavy rocket and artilery fire from Mankerny, Kadjuwathe and Kattumurivu camps on Vaharai in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held territory, are on the increase, according to sources in Vaharai.

Viswalingam Yogasini, 50, a heart patient of Kadatkaraichenai in Trincomalee, an IDP, had been admitted to Vaharai hospital on November 25, was in urgent need to be transferred to Batticaloa hospital. She died on Monday because the Mankerny SLA did not allow her to be taken to Batticaloa hospital.

Yogasini died despite the efforts of the ICRC and Provincial Health Authorities to have her brought to Batticaloa Teaching hospital.

Muthu Kathiramoorthy, 35, another IDP from Eechilampathai in Tricomalee, injured in SLA shooting is in a critical condition at Vaharai hospital for want of essential medicine and is unable to be taken to Batticaloa hospital.

Nallian Illavarasi, 35, from Vaharai suffering from severe epilepsy is on the verge of death unable to be transported to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital for emergency treatment because of the SLA ban of travel to Batticaloa past their Mankerny camp.

The SLA, engaged in continuous mortar and artillery fire on the LTTE held area from their positions in Mankerny, Kadjuwathe and Kattumurivu camps, allege that the LTTE is launching attack on them and therefore they cannot allow anyone to use route A15.

Transport of medicines essential to those suffering from serious injuries and infectious diseases admitted at the Vaharai hospital cannot reach them because of the SLA closure of the A15 route to Vaharai, health officials said.

Batticaloa Secretariat officials said that the food and other essentials taken to the Vaharai IDPs last month will soon dwindle causing acute shortage of food.