2ND LEAD

Hunger claims lives in Vanni

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 March 2009, 15:43 GMT]
Four children below the age of 15 and their parents were admitted to Maaththa'lan makeshift-hospital Monday in serious condition after consuming Adampan leaves (Beach Morning Glory) as nothing else was available for them to eat, according to medical sources. Meanwhile, at least six people have already died due to hunger inside the 'safe zone' in recent days, the sources further said adding that many more are feared dead due to starvation but not accounted for. "What prevents the world powers to set aside their diplomatic maneuvering and arrange enough food and medicine to reach us immediately," ask the people of Vanni reports TamilNet correspondent.

People understand very well that practically there is no problem other than the Colombo government, the correspondent said.

People grab waste paddy husk of the last season heaped in the rice mills, in the hope of getting at least some grains and tiny fragments of rice to make little gruel.

After labouring for 8 hours, winnowing the husks, even half a kilo of grains couldn't be obtained, lamented a displaced civilian from Mannaar, Karthikesu Sivalignam, who lives in Pokka'nai, according to Eezhanatham daily on Sunday.

"The proud cultivators of Vanni are now reduced to scavengers in their own land," said TamilNet correspondent citing the news clipping.

"How do the Colombo government and its abettors expect the civilians to have any respect for them or their agenda," was a response in fury from an NGO worker.



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