Mannar boat ambulance suspended?

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 August 1999, 19:24 GMT]
Six seriously ill patients were brought in fishing boats from the Vanni to Mannar hospital this evening around 5 pm by officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Medicine Sans Frontiers (MSF), said sources in Mannar. Unconfirmed reports say the boat service has now been suspended.

The boats set out from Pallimunai in Mannar around 9.30 am this morning, they said.

Sources said that the following six patients were admitted to Mannar hospital on arrival on the island.

Uthayasooriyan Sivarani (30) of Naganpaduwan Kilinochchi from Akkarayan hospital, Mrs.Mohendran Jebasutha (23) of Mulliyawalai from Mallavi hospital, Ratnanathan Lakshana (12) of Skandapuram from Mallavi Hospital, Mrs. Raveendrasarma Yogaluxmy (23) of Aanaivilunthan Vannerikulam from Akkarayankulam hospital, Selliah Muthulingam (34) of Arumaikudiyruppu Puthuvedduvaan who was attacked by a wild elephant about a week ago and admitted to Akkarayankulam hospital, Sathasivam Sinnarajah (57) a retired People's Bank officer, displaced refugee from Chavakachcheri who had sought refuge at Mallavi and admitted to the hospital there.

However, sources in Mannar said that there is no further boat service between Mannar island and the western coast of the Vanni for the transportation of the seriously ill patients.

The claim could not be confirmed through ICRC or MSF officials.