"ICRC ship only humanitarian link to Jaffna"

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 September 2000, 13:42 GMT]
The only remaining humanitarian link between the war-torn Jaffna and the rest of Sri Lanka is the ferry service run by the International Committee of the Red Cross, transporting medical supplies to all state hospitals in the peninsula said Mr.Harasha Gunawardene, Information Officer of the ICRC at a press briefing Tuesday on board the new vessel "Jaya Gold" berthed in the Ports Authority jetty in Trincomalee harbour.

The MV JAYA GOLD chartered by the international Committee of the Red Cross to transport patients between Jaffna and Trincomalee.

MV JAYA GOLD has replaced the vessel MV JAVA GULF from 1 September. JAVA GULF sailed back to Singapore after more than three years of service between Trincomalee and the Jaffna peninsula.

Mr.Harasha Gunawardene added that from January to August this year the vessel MV JAVA GULF transported 1241 patients between Jaffna and Trincomalee. During this period it also transported 197 metric tons of drugs and medical equipments to all government hospitals in Jaffna peninsula.

He stressed that the International Committee of the Red Cross transports cargo comprising medical supplies for the government hospitals, mail and humanitarian relief items to Jaffna.

Mr.Daniel Schriber, Head of the I.C.R.C.Delegation in Trincomalee said that the ICRC spends 3500 US Dollars daily to run the ferry service of transporting patients from Jaffna to Trincomalee. He added that ICRC spends 60,000 US dollars for fuel for every three months to run this ferry service.

MV JAYA GOLD sailed from Trincomalee Tuesday evening with 27 on board including 16 patients, medical officers, representatives of non-governmental organizations and government officers on official duty.